Fulham are back in the Premier League and they are back in style. The club amassed a massive 90 points in the EFL Championship last season, thanks to striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring a whopping 43 goals. Fulham are now gearing up for their first campaign in the English top-flight since 2018/19. Further on, the club is working hard to complete transfers for their top targets this summer. According to A Bola via Sport Witness, Fulham are now closing on the transfer of Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha.
Fulham have set their sights on Palhinha and manager Marco Silva wants the Portuguese as well. The defensive midfielder had an excellent 2021/22 season with Sporting which landed him on the radars of many clubs. Fulham’s fellow Premier League competitors Wolverhampton Wanderers were also tracking the 26-year-old. However, Fulham are now close to the signing of Palhinha according to Portuguese outlet A Bola. The report further claims that if everything goes according to plan, Marco Silva will have his hands on the player in the next few days.
Palhinha could be a Fulham player by the end of this week
Fulham are working swiftly to reach a final agreement for Palhinha with Sporting CP. Marco Silva has demanded the midfielder’s signing to bolster his team which will be competing in the Premier League next season. Silva currently has Nathaniel Chalobah and Jean Michael Seri as the two options in the defensive midfield. However, the Fulham boss wants to add more depth to that position with Palhinha’s signing.
The report from A Bola reveals that Fulham have reached a personal agreement with Palhinha for a move. The Cottagers are now in direct negotiations with Sporting to conclude a final agreement. The Portuguese side have accepted Fulham’s £17 million bid and a full agreement is expected to be reached soon. Furthermore, the midfielder is also content with Fulham’s package of £2 million salaries per year.
Palhinha, who is on vacation, will arrive in London directly for his Fulham medical. The player will then sign his contract which will keep him at Fulham for the next four years, i.e. until the summer of 2026. All in place, Fulham could then announce Palhinha as their first signing since promotion to the Premier League by the end of this week. A Bola also adds that while Wolves were keen too on Palhinha, they are now out of the race after Fulham’s advanced negotiations.
Palhinha is among the few talented players who would be gracing the Premier League next season. The midfielder helped Sporting to a second-place finish in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season, making 27 appearances in the league. Palhinha racked up an impressive 3 tackles, 1.5 aerial duels won, and 2.8 long-balls per game. His astute pass completion rate of 87.8% further makes him an exciting acquisition for Fulham.
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