Tottenham have agreed to sign João Palhinha on a season’s loan from Bayern Munich, with the deal for the Portugal midfielder including an option to make his move permanent for £27m.
It is understood that Spurs are paying a loan fee of £4.3m and will also cover the whole of Palhinha’s wages, with the 30-year-old expected to complete his medical in the coming days.
Tottenham had initially approached Bayern about a straight loan for Palhinha, who joined the German side from Fulham last summer in a deal worth up to £47.4m, as Thomas Frank looks to add extra options in central midfield. But it is understood that Bayern requested the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season for €30m (£27m) be added during negotiations this week and that was accepted.
Palhinha has three years remaining on his current contract but is believed to have been keen to return to the Premier League after enjoying two successful seasons in west London. He only made six starts in the Bundesliga under Vincent Kompany.
Tottenham’s board have a good relationship with their Bayern counterparts, having signed Mathys Tel this summer for around £30m after the French forward spent the second half of last season on loan in north London, as well as agreeing previous deals for Harry Kane and Eric Dier.
James Milner will wear the number 20 shirt at Brighton this season in memory of the late Diogo Jota, describing his former Liverpool teammate as a 'great friend'.
The Portuguese forward died aged 28 last month in a car accident, alongside his brother André Silva. Liverpool have retired the number 20 jersey worn by Jota at Anfield in tribute, and Milner has opted to switch from No 6 after Brighton teammate Carlos Baleba changed his squad number from No 20 to No 17.
'Once I heard Carlos was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and pay tribute to Diogo Jota," Milner said. 'He was an amazing player who I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well. It will be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League this year.'
Spurs are understood to be targeting a new left-back and have been linked with Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, while they are also hoping to sign another attacking midfielder after failing in their pursuit of Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
Meanwhile, the teenage forward Mikey Moore has completed his season-long loan move to Rangers in a deal that is understood to not include an option to make the switch permanent.
The highly rated attacker, who turns 18 this month, came through the ranks at Spurs and made his senior debut against Manchester City a little over 12 months ago, becoming the youngest Tottenham player to feature in the Premier League at the age of 16 years and 277 days.
Moore, who has played for England youth sides up to under-19 level, told the Ibrox club’s official website: “I’m excited to get going. As soon as I heard Rangers were interested and wanted me to come, it was a massive opportunity for me.”
