Manchester City were linked with a move for João Palhinha when Fernandinho’s future was uncertain, but the Sky Blues went on to extend his contract for another 12 months, so it doesn’t appear they’re after Palhinha now.
A Bola (h/t Sport Witness) say Wolverhampton Wanderers are trying to capitalise on the situation by beating City, Olympique Lyonnais, LOSC Lille, Real Betis, CSKA Moscow, Manchester United, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and SSC Napoli to the 26-year-old’s signature.
Wolves are willing to offer €15m-€20m (£12.8m-£17m) for Palhinha, but it’s hard to see City being disappointed as Fernandinho and Rodri are more than enough in the holding role right now.
Pep Guardiola will need to replace the former eventually and has looked at Ismael Bennacer, Denis Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Douglas Luiz and Mahmoud Dahoud among others, but there’s no immediate rush.
The fact Sporting aren’t willing to sell Palhinha for less than his €60m (£51.2m) release clause might have turned City off too. Wolves aren’t likely to have much success low-balling Sporting, so time will tell where the midfield ends up.
In other news, Harry Kane is refusing to train for Tottenham Hotspur as Manchester City eye transfer