West Ham’s 2-0 win away to Manchester United might have eased some of the pressure on Graham Potter but, still, the summer transfer window cannot come soon enough after another underwhelming Premier League campaign.
In a reluctant battle not to be crowned the ‘best of the worst’, the jubilant West Ham fans could not resist a dig at Tottenham as they leapfrogged both Spurs and Manchester United into 15th.
Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek securing an impressive victory over Ruben Amorim’s beleaguered outfit.
Yet, brief respite aside, this remains a West Ham United team in dire need of reinforcement. This, after all, was only Graham Potter’s fourth win in 17 games since replacing the equally-lacklustre Julian Lopetegui in the dugout.
Convincing Joao Palhinha to return to London one year after he secured his dream move to Bayern Munich, however, looks a mountain far too steep for Tim Steidten and co.
The former Craven Cottage ace is a long-term Hammers target. West Ham tried to sign Palhinha from Fulham in 2023, as confirmed by the player himself.
Palhinha has struggled for game time since joining the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions, meanwhile, with West Ham again showing an interest in a Portugal international who has started only nine games across all competitions in Bayern Munich colours.
However, speaking after Bayern re-claimed the title and quenched Harry Kane’s insatiable thirst for silverware in the process, Palhinha certainly did not sound like a man ready to give up on his Bavarian dreams.
Quite the opposite.
Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha shuts West Ham door
The one-time Sporting Lisbon colossus puts his lack of starts down to a muscle injury which kept him out for two months just as he was starting to nail down a spot in Vincent Kompany’s Bundesliga XI.
Palhinha also highlights the fine form of his rival midfielders; Joshua Kimmich, youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic, and a revitalised Leon Goretzka.
“It wasn’t easy. My injury didn’t help me,” Palhinha explains. “And, when I came back, Leon was playing well. So it wasn’t easy to get playing time.
“I want to stay. Why not? I’m at one of the best clubs in the world. Just because things weren’t going well for me in my first year doesn’t mean I want to leave again! This only gives me more will to keep fighting. I want more.
“If there’s anyone who wants to change my situation and prove their worth, it’s me.”
Guido Rodriguez and Edson Alvarez could leave Hammers
Palhinha established himself as one of the finest ball-winning midfielders in European football during his two-year spell in West London.
The now-29-year-old topped the Premier League charts for tackles in both of his seasons in a Fulham shirt.
However, given West Ham’s track record when it comes to signing ageing players for a considerable financial cost, those Palhinha links may be a cause for some concern. Especially at a time when Niclas Fullkrug, Danny Ings, James Ward-Prowse and co have all failed to live up to their lofty price-tags.
Yet, The Hammers will need a new number six should either Edson Alvarez or Guido Rodriguez depart. Or both, perhaps.
Former Dortmund target Alvarez is reportedly on Bayern Munich’s radar, though such reports seem questionable now as Palhinha commits his future to the Allianz Arena side. Guido Rodriguez is in talks to re-join River Plate, meanwhile, and it feels extremely unlikely that Potter will stand in the veteran Argentine’s way.
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