Spurs Set to Make Palhinha Permanent as £26m Option Looms — And He Wants It

Tottenham are quietly teeing up another big swing in the market: turning Joao Palhinha’s loan into a permanent move once this campaign wraps. The word from Ben Jacobs is clear — the Portuguese enforcer wants to stay put in north London, and Spurs are positioning themselves to make it happen.

Frank’s midfield linchpin

Thomas Frank has wasted no time moulding this squad since succeeding Ange Postecoglou. Xavi Simons arrived from RB Leipzig to sprinkle stardust in the final third, Mohammed Kudus cost a pretty penny from West Ham, and Palhinha has stepped in as the midfield metronome with bite. The plan is straightforward: Tottenham are preparing to trigger a £26m option to buy at season’s end, and crucially, the player’s preference is to remain at Hotspur Way rather than return to Bayern Munich.

Room to negotiate? Don’t rule it out

Jacobs adds that Spurs may still test Bayern’s resolve by exploring a reduced figure, leveraging the fact Palhinha is settled and keen to stay. It’s smart business if they can pull it off — a classic north London nudge to shave a few million off a deal that already looks sensible in today’s market.

Exactly what Spurs have been missing

Palhinha brings the sort of presence you feel from row Z. He screens, snaps into challenges, and gives Tottenham’s creators the licence to roam. Even when he started on the bench in the Champions League against Bodo/Glimt, he came on for Pape Matar Sarr and immediately steadied the ship. The numbers back it up: three ground duels won and two tackles in that stalemate — small sample, big statement.

How it fits the bigger picture

Between Simons’ invention and Kudus’ power, Frank has added layers to Spurs’ attack. Palhinha is the glue — the platform that lets the flair players dance. Locking him down in 2026 would underline a coherent strategy: recruit quality, keep the spine, and build year on year. For supporters, it’s the kind of signing that doesn’t just win headlines; it wins territory and, often enough, wins matches.

What happens next

Expect quiet, diligent groundwork from the Spurs hierarchy between now and the end of the season. If Bayern open the door to negotiation, Tottenham will walk through it. If not, that £26m option already looks more than palatable for a proven top-level destroyer who suits Frank’s blueprint down to the ground.

All statistics courtesy of Sofascore — correct as of 02/10/2025. For form guides, markets and the latest odds chatter around Spurs’ season, check out our best betting sites.