I told Man Utd no after heartbreaking situation – now I could be on my way to Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in discussions to bring former Manchester United target Joao Palhinha to north London.

The midfielder had a tough first season at Bayern Munich but previously shone in the Premier League with Fulham. Palhinha, 30, was limited to just six league starts for the German giants during an injury-ridden campaign following his move worth up to £47.4million last summer.

He was a standout performer during his two years at Craven Cottage and was reported to be on the radar of United and several other clubs during his stint in West London. Bayern eventually secured Palhinha's signature, having initially seen a deadline day move fall through in 2023.

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There has been chatter that United have rekindled their interest in Palhinha in the current transfer window, but the midfielder could make a return to the Premier League with a different club after emerging as a target for Spurs. The Independent has reported that Tottenham have initiated negotiations over a potential loan move for the former Sporting Lisbon star.

It is suggested that Spurs held an interest in Palhinha prior to him joining Bayern. A temporary switch could allow him to rediscover his top form ahead of the 2026 World Cup and prove a point to Bayern boss Vincent Kompany.

Tottenham are well-equipped in midfield but may wish to strengthen their squad after securing Champions League qualification through their Europa League victory. Palhinha has previously shown himself to be shrewd when making crucial career decisions.

Sky Germany revealed that the former Fulham midfielder made it abundantly clear he would reject any overtures from United as he remained determined to secure a move to Bayern last summer after his transfer collapsed. Fulham were understood to have set a £60m asking price for Palhinha, who was said to have caught the eye of United, Barcelona and Bayern.

However, the uncertainty surrounding then-United boss Erik ten Hag's future, who would sign a contract extension only to be sacked in October, did little to enhance the club's prospects of persuading Palhinha. United's missed chance could prove beneficial for Spurs should Palhinha link up with Thomas Frank's side on loan.

But the defensive midfielder will be eager to avoid another drawn-out transfer saga, having reflected on the awkward situation he endured at Fulham in 2023. He said of his first collapsed move to Bayern: "Obviously, it affected me and my family a lot, but it's water under the bridge, I don't want to remember too much about it.

"It's a great pride, you know what happened. In my life everything that has been happening – it has been for a reason, I like to think that way. The future will tell me whether what really happened was what had to happen or not.

"But only the future will show me that. I want to continue walking the journey as I've been doing, no one has given me anything throughout my career, everything I've achieved is earned, for my work. I hope that continues to be the case. I'm 28 years old, but I know I can reach higher and it's with this ambition that I face the future."

Now-England manager Thomas Tuchel heaped praise on Palhinha whilst lamenting his failure to secure the midfielder's signature, explaining: "I was sad because I know what he would have added to our team. He was sad and disappointed. We'll speak again about what happened. Everyone did what they had to do, but it was too late in the end."

United swooped for Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint Germain during the same transfer window that witnessed Palhinha eventually seal his move to Bayern. The £51m midfielder, who had previously lined up alongside Palhinha at Sporting CP, appeared in 45 fixtures throughout his debut season at United and has since been reunited with boss Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.

Elsewhere, Tottenham claimed a 1-0 win over north London rivals Arsenal at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on Thursday, with midfielder Pape Matar Sarr bagging the contest's solitary strike. The club have snapped up Mohammed Kudus for £55m and confirmed permanent agreements for former loanees Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel.