Bayern Munich director Hasan Salihamidzic has played down the possibility of a move for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window, but has left the door open for a potential deal in January.
Palhinha was close to joining Bayern on deadline day, but the deal collapsed at the last minute as Fulham were unable to find a suitable replacement.
Bayern are still interested in the Portuguese international, but Salihamidzic has insisted that they are not focused on signing him this summer.
“We are not thinking about the Palhinha deal right now,” Salihamidzic told Sky Sports. “We have a really good team and we are happy with the players we have.”
However, Salihamidzic did not rule out a move for Palhinha in January.
“We’ll see what happens in January,” he said.
Palhinha is under contract with Fulham until 2028, but it is believed that he is keen to join Bayern Munich.
The 28-year-old is a key player for Fulham and was one of their best performers in the Premier League last season.
He is also a regular starter for the Portuguese national team and played at the World Cup in 2022.
If Bayern Munich do not sign Palhinha in the summer transfer window, it is likely that they will make another attempt to sign him in January.
The Bundesliga champions are in need of a new defensive midfielder, as Joshua Kimmich is currently the only player in their squad who can play in that position.