Manchester United are being linked with a surprise move for Tottenham Hotspur's on-loan midfielder Joao Palhinha, as they reportedly prepare to cut their losses on big-money signing Manuel Ugarte.
United's Midfield Shake-Up
The Red Devils are said to have placed Ugarte on the transfer list ahead of the January window opening next month. The Uruguayan, who arrived at Old Trafford from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £50 million in 2024, has been criticised for his performances, with pundit Craig Burley branding him a 'wet blanket'.
With manager Ruben Amorim keen to recruit a new midfielder, former Spurs player Pedro Mendes believes Portuguese compatriot Palhinha could be the ideal replacement. Palhinha is currently on a season-long loan at Tottenham from Bayern Munich, with the North London club holding an option to make the deal permanent for £27 million next summer.
Why Palhinha Could Fit at Old Trafford
'Palhinha at Man Utd? Well, why not?' Mendes told Boyle Sports. 'To be fair, I think Manuel Ugarte is more or less the same type of player as Palhinha. [But] Palhinha is an option if they want to replace him.'
Mendes elaborated on the 29-year-old's qualities, describing him as the archetypal Premier League defensive midfielder. 'Joao Palhinha is the typical Premier League number six, that defensive midfielder who just sweeps up everything in front of the defenders,' he said.
However, Mendes also noted a potential limitation. 'If you have a team that has a lot of possession, he's a little bit out of his game, from my point of view. The players around him will shine more than him because he just wins the ball, passes it away, tackles the ball, passes it. He's fantastic at doing that role.'
A Familiar Target for the Red Devils
This is not the first time United have shown interest in Palhinha. The club previously targeted the midfielder before he completed a £47.4 million move from Fulham to Bayern Munich in July 2024.
Mendes suggested the move could make sense given the uncertainty surrounding veteran Casemiro's future at the club. 'We are not sure what is going to happen to Casemiro, so I think it could work,' he added.
The pundit also explained why Palhinha's time at Bayern was less successful than his spell at Fulham. 'At Bayern Munich, when you have 70% or 60% of ball possession most of the games, you don't need to do that kind of job... his strength is a little bit forgotten. So probably that's why he struggled at Bayern and at Spurs at the moment.'
Meanwhile, former United winger Nani has also publicly backed the potential signing, believing Palhinha's profile would be an ideal fit for the midfield at Old Trafford.
