Man Utd plotting move for PL star this summer after missing out on €20m signing

Manchester United are interested in signing Fulham star Joao Palhinha this summer, according to a new report - a year after they missed out on a €20 million move.

The 27-year-old Portugal international has been a revelation since joining Marco Silva's side last summer, and is the key player in Fulham's midfield.

A strong, tough-tackling defensive midfielder that can also carry the ball forward and possesses great passing range, Palhinha has impressed onlookers in his first Premier League season.

Before his departure from Sporting Lisbon, the midfielder was described as a 'special player' by Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim, and he was considered in Portugal as a player that the club simply could not lose.

Given his performances for the Cottagers, it comes as a surprise that Fulham only needed to pay €20 million to lure him away from the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Man Utd missed out on €20m Palhinha

According to Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness), United were keen on signing the midfielder last year, when Ralf Rangnick was in charge.

It was claimed that United scouts watched Palhinha when Sporting took on Porto, and were lining up a move for a player expected to leave the club that summer.

And whilst that did happen, it was, of course, not United that was his destination.

Now, according to The Sun, Erik ten Hag's side have renewed their interest in signing Palhinha this summer - but they have two major hurdles to jump over.

The first is that Palhinha is reportedly attracting interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. In addition, he is now worth far more than the €20m Fulham paid for him last year.

It is cited that his value is at least €40m, which is increased further by the fact that he has four years left on his contract.

But it is a fee United may be willing to pay, with Palhinha's technical and defensive qualities arguably making him an ideal partner for Casemiro at the base of Ten Hag's midfield.