Joao Palhinha has distanced himself from reports that he could be on the move and insists he is ‘very motivated’ to ‘prove his worth’ at Bayern Munich next season.
The 30-year-old will have been desperate to make up for lost time last term after joining Bayern in a £47.4m transfer from Fulham, 12 months after seeing a proposed deal collapse.
But injury problems meant Palhinha never really got going across what was a frustrating debut season in German football, in which the midfielder made just six league starts.
There has been some speculation that Palhinha could already be deemed surplus to requirements in Munich amid fierce competition for places in Vincent Kompany’s engine room.
Palhinha is battling it out for minutes with Leon Goretzka, Aleks Pavlovic, Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer and new signing Tom Bischof and the Portuguese has been given no assurances that he will be a regular starter next season.
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Serie A giants Inter Milan are known to be admirers of Palhinha, while a report emanating out of Germany this week claimed Arsenal had held ‘serious’ talks to sign the Bayern man before the Club World Cup.
Clubs from Spain, Turkey and Portugal are also believed to be monitoring Palhinha’s situation at the Allianz Arena.
However, speaking to Portuguese outlet Sport TV on Thursday, Palhinha stressed that he remained committed to his contract with Bayern, which is not due to expire until June 2028.
‘I have a contract for three more years, so I’ll report for duty on July 29, which is when we start this pre-season,’ he said.
‘As I’ve said several times, and it’s been a recurring question, I have three more years on my contract.’
While Palhinha admits there is some uncertainty over his future after a difficult debut year, he is looking forward to representing Bayern again when the new campaign gets underway.
‘I don’t know what will happen, but I’m at a great club, as I’ve always said, he added.
‘Obviously, it hasn’t been an easy year, but as soon as the season starts, I’m very motivated to prove my worth once again at a very special club, a huge club.
According to Bild, Arsenal have been eyeing Palhinha as a possible target in midfield, even after bringing in Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi from Brentford and Real Sociedad respectively.
With Jorginho and Thomas Partey both having departed the Gunners this summer, new sporting director Andrea Berta has been determined not to leave Mikel Arteta short in the middle of the park.
Kepa Arrizabalaga remains Arsenal’s only other addition of the transfer window, but it’s understood Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera and Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres are closing in on moves to the Emirates.
The north Londoners are also working on a deal with Crystal Palace for Eberechi Eze after agreeing personal terms with the England international.
Eze has a £68million release clause at Selhurst Park and Palace are reportedly demanding that their London rivals pay this in full.
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