Bayern Munich finally strike deal to sign priority midfield target

Bayern Munich have finally agreed a deal to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, numerous reports have revealed.

Palhinha came close to joining Bayern last summer and was even in Munich in the final minutes of the transfer window as he expected a deal to be agreed, only for the two clubs to fail to agree over a transfer fee.

12 months later and a deal has been struck. Florian Plettenberg was the first to confirm the two sides had reached an agreement, before Nizaar Kinsella revealed the terms of the deal on the table.

Bayern have agreed to pay an initial €51m (£43.2m) to sign Palhinha, with a further €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons.

There are still some small details to finalise but Palhinha, who is away at Euro 2024 with Portugal, is finally closing in on the move he has publicly admitted he was desperate to seal.

"As far as my future is concerned, both clubs know where I want to be in a month," Palhinha told the media last June. "I am currently concentrating on my work with the national team and on making history for my country."

Reports had suggested Bayern were prepared to move on from Palhinha if their latest bid was not accepted, with Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte and Everton's Amadou Onana both believed to be of interest to the German giants.

However, that no longer appears necessary as Bayern are close to wrapping up another deal in what is becoming an expensive summer.

Having agreed to pay €12m (£10.2m) to hire manager Vincent Kompany from Burnley, Bayern quickly triggered the €30m (£25.4m) release clause of centre-back Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart to bolster their defence.

Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise is close to joining in a deal worth around £60m, while Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah remains a target alongside Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Xavi Simons.

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