Joao Palhinha admits his failed £55m Bayern Munich deadline day move ‘really affected me’ – as sporting director confirms the Fulham star remains on their radar

• Joao Palhinha came close to joining the Bundesliga champions last summer 
• Midfielder signed a new contract running until 2028 with Fulham weeks later  
• It’s a three-team title race… Toney could lead Arsenal to glory: It’s All Kicking Off

Joao Palhinha has admitted that his failed deadline day transfer to Bayern Munich took its took on him and his family. 

The Fulham midfielder was set to complete a move to German champions and had flown to Munich to complete his medical, but the transfer fell through on deadline day due after the Cottagers were unable to find a replacement. 

The 28-year-old recovered from the disappointment and has continued to impress in west London, despite his side’s poor form this term. 

As the winter transfer window approaches, discussion has turned to whether the combative midfielder could see his transfer resurrected. 

‘I don’t know what will happen in the future.’ Palhinha told O Jogo ahead of Portugal’s Euro qualifiers against Liechtenstein. ‘Obviously, it’s really affected me and my family, but that’s all in the past, I don’t want to think about it too much.

Joao Palhinha admitted that his failed move to Bayern Munich affected him and his family

Despite Fulham’s stuttering form, Palhinha has remain a dominant force in midfield and leads the league in number of tackles made (52)

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Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund (pictured) confirmed that Palhinha remains on the club’s radar 

‘It’s a great source of pride, you know what happened. In my life everything that has happened has been for a reason, I like to think of it like that.’

Palhinha penned a new contract at Fulham just weeks later and insisted upon its announcement that he was ‘100 per cent’ committed to the club and thanked the fans for their support.

‘The future will tell me whether what happened was really what had to happen or not, but only the future will show me that.’ He added.

‘I want to keep going the way I’ve been going, nobody has given me anything throughout my career, and everything I’ve achieved is down to my worth, my work.

‘I hope it stays that way. I’m 28, but I know I can go higher and I’m looking to the future with that ambition.’

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund confirmed that the club remain interested in the player who has registered more tackles than anyone else in the Premier League this season.

The Bavarian giants were unable to sign an alternative to Palhinha and also sold midfielder Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool, leaving them short on numbers in the position during the first-half of the campaign. 

‘Of course he is still on our radar.’ Freund told Sport Bild. ‘The club worked intensively with Palhinha in the summer.

‘I was there for the bit on the last, strange day of the transfer window, but you can’t say yet what will happen. We are generally exploring the market.’

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