Beyond Aston Villa, Newcastle United has reportedly added the 31-year-old Portuguese international to their transfer wishlist. According to recent reports, Palhinha is considered a primary backup option for the Magpies, should their pursuit of Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg from Olympique de Marseille ultimately fall through.

Newcastle could soon bolster its defensive midfield with either Höjbjerg, a former Bayern player, or Palhinha. The Portuguese midfielder initially arrived in Munich in 2025, a year after his planned transfer from Fulham FC collapsed at the last minute due to Fulham’s refusal. He had been a key target for then-Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel. Despite the initial setback, Bayern had assured Palhinha of their continued commitment. However, by the time he eventually joined for an approximate fee of 50 million euros, Tuchel had already departed. His successor, Vincent Kompany, reportedly struggled to integrate the purely defensive-minded tackler into his tactical setup.

Last season saw Palhinha enjoy a relatively successful loan period with Tottenham Hotspur. However, a permanent move was thwarted by Bayern’s financial demands. Neither Tottenham, Palhinha’s boyhood club Sporting, nor their fierce rivals Benfica, were prepared to meet the reported 35 million euro valuation.

Who is showing interest in João Palhinha?

Following public confirmation of Aston Villa’s interest by their sporting director, Damian Vidagany, during a friendly match against Bayern in Hong Kong, Newcastle United has now reportedly entered the fray for Palhinha’s signature.

At Newcastle United, significant funds have been generated from the departures of central midfielders Sandro Tonali, who moved to Tottenham, and Bruno Guimaraes, who joined champions Arsenal, netting a combined 204.5 million euros in transfer fees. Despite this financial boost, the squad under new German head coach Matthias Jaissle is in urgent need of a dedicated defensive midfielder.

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Who could strengthen Newcastle United’s midfield?

Höjbjerg remains the top priority. The Danish international had a spell with Bayern Munich as a youth player from 2012 to 2016, subsequently forging a career in the Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham, before his current stint at Marseille in France. Nevertheless, should the deal for the Dane fail to materialize, Palhinha could swiftly emerge as a leading contender for the role. Financial constraints are unlikely to be an obstacle for Newcastle, a club often labeled among the wealthiest globally, even if they have adopted a more measured approach to spending in recent times.