Journalist: Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Bayern Munich midfielder
Spurs show interest in experienced midfielder
Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Joao Palhinha's situation as Bayern Munich remain open to offers. According to Florian Plettenberg, the interest is not yet concrete, but Palhinha's representatives are aware of Tottenham's monitoring.
Photo IMAGO
'Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Joao Palhinha's situation. It is not concrete at this stage, but there is interest,' reported Plettenberg. The 30-year-old defensive midfielder has been a long-term target for Premier League clubs, and with Bayern now prepared to engage in talks, his future may be revisited.
Bayern's stance is clear: 'Bayern are open to talks should suitable offers arrive for the 30 y/o.' Tottenham, seeking greater balance in midfield under Thomas Frank, may yet decide to escalate their interest.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
Joao Palhinha is undoubtedly a solid midfielder, and if Spurs had signed him from Fulham a year ago, few would have objected. But now, at 30, the deal starts to feel less like forward planning and more like a patch job.
Photo: IMAGO
We've seen this film before. A veteran name becomes available, Spurs show interest, talks drag on, and eventually either the price is too high or someone else swoops in. If this is just posturing, then fine. If it's serious, then you hope the club have done the long-term analysis. Palhinha could bring structure and aggression to their midfield, but how does he fit stylistically? Can he keep up with the pace Frank wants?
And Bayern are not desperate sellers. They know what they have. So do Spurs really need to take this on unless it's for the right fee, the right contract length, and a clear role within the squad?
It's not about saying no to Palhinha, but about asking the right questions. Because after so many misfires, Spurs can't afford to make another short-sighted call.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Eddie Howe Clarifies Isak's Situation Ahead of Arsenal Clash
Eddie Howe confirms no contract talks with Swedish striker amid Liverpool links Eddie Howe Clarifies Isak's Situation Ahead of Arsenal Clash Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe's responded to swirling rumors surrounding the future of Alexander Isak denying any current negotiations over contract renewal with the Swedish forward. No Contract Talks Yet Speaking ahead of Newcastle's pre season friendly against Arsenal, Howe stated: "To my knowledge, there're no ongoing negotiations over Isak's contract. That could happen later" Despite Isak still having three years left on his deal speculation surged this week after the 25 year old missed the club's Asia tour due to reported thigh injury. Behind the Scenes Talks? Multiple outlets including The Athletic & Daily Mail, claim Isak's informed the club he wants clarity on possible move with Liverpool reportedly keen on his signature. However, Howe remained firm but diplomatic: "Isak's been amazing for the team. He's loved in the dressing room. We'd like him to continue his journey with us" He admitted Isak's under pressure: "He knows he'll be in the headlines daily. That's not easy for anyone in this position" €170M Price Tag Set Reports suggest Newcastle've placed 170 million Euro price tag on Isak an amount widely seen as deal breaker for potential buyers.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Xabi Alonso's Hidden Weapon? Brahim Diaz Gears Up for Key Role
Moroccan star earns trust of Xabi Alonso despite new signings at the Bernabéu Xabi Alonso's Hidden Weapon? Brahim Diaz Gears Up for Key Role Ibrahim Diaz's quietly preparing to become a key piece in Real Madrid's tactical puzzle as new coach Xabi Alonso begins shaping the team ahead of the new season. A New Beginning Under Xabi Despite the recent arrival of Argentine talent Franco Mastantuono, Madrid's technical staff's working on strategy to free Diaz from pressure and give him full confidence. Reports say he feels more focused & motivated than ever excited to play his 1st full season under Alonso's leadership. No Exit Talks This Summer According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid've no plans to sell Diaz this summer. The club's scouting team, led by Juni Calafat concluded he's the ideal backup for Jude Bellingham & communicated this to Alonso. The new head coach's said to agree impressed by Diaz's intelligence on the pitch ability to connect midfield and attack and his technical skills that can unlock games. Alonso's vision aligns with the club's strategy of easing pressure on Diaz amid rising competition. If the 24 year old delivers strong numbers early in the season, he could reclaim his past status as Madrid's "13th man" - the go to substitute in rotation. Ibrahim Diaz at Real Madrid
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Free childcare crisis as surge in demand leaves Labour with funding black hole
Ministers have been warned the childcare sector is at risk of 'collapse' after a boom in demand for free care left a major government scheme in financial peril. A plan to expand free childcare for British families is set to cost the government an extra £1bn per year at a time when ministers are grappling to fill the gaping black hole in public finances. Labour has not spelled out how the funding gap will be filled, but experts predict the shortfall will create 'substantial pressure' on the government and could put the entire childcare sector under threat. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Bridget Phillipson insisted the unexpectedly high take-up – a quarter higher than predicted – was a 'good problem to have' and would not leave children without places. But the education secretary could not guarantee that parents would get a space at their local nursery in September, when the scheme expands to offer eligible children aged nine months and older 30 hours a week of free childcare. Industry leaders said parents would be left 'disappointed' while nurseries warned a lack of staff meant they were already struggling to deliver the government's pledge. CEO of the Early Years Alliance, Neil Leitch, told The Independent: 'One thing is absolutely clear: if 80 per cent of all hours delivered are government hours, and those hours are inadequately funded, the infrastructure will collapse over a period of time. 'I can't say it will be one year or five years, but you can bet your bottom dollar if you don't give somebody enough money to deliver a service, at some point they stop.' Figures published in March show the number of people newly entitled to free childcare was 26 per cent higher than originally estimated – 379,000 compared to 302,000. This meant that the Department for Education spent £2bn on the policy last year, up from a planned £1.6bn. But this is only set to grow as further hours of free childcare are rolled out. According to the highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies, the cost of extending free childcare to under-3s could end up costing £1bn more a year than previously expected, from 2026/7 onwards – up from around £4bn to approximately £5bn. A boost to funding announced in Rachel Reeves's spending review, of £640m, would 'go some way to filling this gap… [but] could still leave substantial pressure from higher-than-expected take-up', the IFS said. IFS associate director Christine Farquharson said the DfE will still likely face 'difficult choices' within its budget and may have to 'trim back' spending in other areas to meet its childcare commitments. 'They have a fixed pot of money. When one thing becomes more expensive, that puts more pressure on other areas of the [education] budget,' she told The Independent. Ms Farquharson said predictions for how many parents would take up the free hours were 'complex' but added: 'It does seem like [the Tories] underestimated take-up pretty systematically.' It is just one of many financial decisions facing the chancellor ahead of the autumn Budget after planned welfare cuts, aimed at saving £5bn annually, were reversed. Ms Reeves is being pushed to bend her rules on borrowing or to raise taxes to keep public finances on track. The free childcare policy was launched in December 2023 with great fanfare under former Tory chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The first stage was put in place from September 2024, when the government extended 15 hours a week of free term-time childcare to working parents with a child aged nine months and over. From September, that will be extended to 30 hours a week. Labour say they were left a 'pledge without a plan' when they entered government. Ministers have been working to massively expand the number of nursery spaces and staff but the task has been made more difficult by the fact that, unlike schools, many nurseries are private providers. Industry leaders warned that, with 8 in 10 of all nursery hours soon to be paid for by the government, the infrastructure was at risk of 'collapse' without more money. The sector has already been forced to absorb huge additional costs in recent years, including April's national insurance rise, it warned. Childcare in the UK is one of the most expensive in the world, according to the OECD. Mr Leitch added: 'What we have to bear in mind is that we've already got a recruitment and retention crisis. The reality is, many settings don't have the people to be able to accommodate those additional hours. So I'm afraid there will be parents that will be disappointed.' Sarah Ronan, the director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, said the IFS was right to sound the alarm, adding that if the government did not match demand with funding it is leaving providers with 'no choice' but to limit the number of places they offer – or raise fees. 'The harsh reality is that if providers don't do that, they'll face closure and then we'll have an even worse crisis on our hands,' she said. Purnima Tanuku, executive chair of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said the government's ambitions 'will be put at risk if there is not sufficient investment in early years'. She added that 'almost 70 per cent of nurseries told us that staff shortages mean they cannot offer the children's places they have room to deliver'. Munira Wilson, the Lib Dem education spokesperson, said providers had been left 'hanging by a thread and parents [are] facing the prospect of childcare deserts'. 'The government need to ensure that the funding for childcare hours matches the actual costs of delivery,' she said. Official statistics released last week showed a 7.2 per cent increase in early years staff, the largest annual rise since the series began. The Department for Education would not be drawn on where any extra money might come from. But Ms Phillipson insisted she was unafraid of the policy's popularity. She urged families to check what they are entitled to, adding: 'I want as many parents as possible to take up the offer. It allows parents to juggle work and family life, but it also sets up children to succeed. And the demand that parents are showing is a good problem to have, because it also brings economic dividends as well. 'If people are able to work, or work a few more hours… that helps us all as a society as well and it gets economic growth going.' Ms Phillipson has previously warned that, as the policy expands again in September, parents in the first wave might not get their first choice of nursery. Asked if she could say that all parents who want a space would get one, she told The Independent: 'What I can't guarantee is that it will be as close to home as they would like or it will be their first choice, but we're confident that the rollout will go well in September.' Ms Farquharson did add that the higher uptake of free childcare could ultimately be a good sign for the economy, even if it is more expensive in the short-term. 'This higher uptake might mean that we're getting a lot more parents moving into paid work because of these entitlements than first predicted,' she said. 'If the goal for this policy is to drive growth, then this would be a fantastic success story.' However, the extent to which that is the case will only become apparent over the next few years, she said. A DfE spokesperson said: 'High-quality, affordable childcare plays a vital role in our Plan for Change, which is why early years funding will rise to over £9bn next year, helping us meet our target of getting tens of thousands more children each year ready for school. 'We're backing families with this record investment including a £75m grant this year to support providers in delivering more places and a 45 per cent uplift in early year pupil premium, building on the real difference this is making for families as highlighted by the Coram survey who say costs for some has halved.'
