João Palhinha could be on his way back to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly closing in on a season-long loan deal for the Bayern Munich midfielder. But while his ball-winning credentials are beyond doubt questions remain over whether his passing game fits Thomas Frank’s plans.
It was a historic North London Derby in Hong Kong on Thursday the first ever played outside the UK and Spurs edged Arsenal 1 to 0 in a hard-fought friendly. While only a preseason fixture the match had added subplots not least Frank’s first derby win as Tottenham boss.
There was also an emotional reunion. Arsenal’s Christian Nørgaard once a key figure under Frank at Brentford featured for the Gunners after clocking over 10000 Premier League minutes under his former manager. Only Bryan Mbeumo had played more during Frank’s Brentford tenure.
Last season Nørgaard topped Brentford’s ball recoveries in the league with 193 and ranked just behind centre-back Nathan Collins in aerial duel success rate. So it raised some eyebrows that Spurs didn’t try to bring him along though Arsenal’s pull may have made any attempt futile.
Still Frank has plenty of midfield options in Bentancur Sarr Bissouma Bergvall and rising star Archie Gray. What he might lack however is a true destroyer and that’s where Palhinha fits the bill.
The Portugal international earned a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most fearsome tacklers during his time at Fulham leading the league in tackles in back-to-back seasons. In 2022-23 he made 148 tackles 48 more than the next closest player. The following season despite playing fewer games he raised that number to 152.
He wasn’t just about crunching challenges either. Palhinha won over 60 percent of his duels across those two seasons and proved himself aerially too with a win rate above 64 percent in his first year. His aggressive style often pushed the boundaries though. He picked up 27 yellow cards over those two campaigns but was never sent off.
His performances at Fulham earned him a move to Bayern Munich for 47 million pounds in 2024. But things haven’t gone to plan. Palhinha struggled for minutes under Vincent Kompany making just six league starts and missed a big chunk of the season due to injury. He also received his first red card in top-flight football during a shock defeat to Bochum.
Part of the issue is stylistic: Bayern typically dominate possession giving Palhinha fewer chances to do what he does best. He still averaged 2.7 tackles per 90 minutes second only to Sacha Boey among Bayern players but his role in build-up play exposed a limitation.
Despite completing nearly 93 percent of his passes in the Bundesliga only a tiny portion were forward-thinking. Just 2.7 percent were considered progressive the lowest rate among all midfielders in Germany’s top flight who attempted at least 200 passes.
To put that in context all of Spurs’ current midfielders including Sarr Bissouma Bentancur and Bergvall posted higher progressive pass percentages last season. And if Frank wants to replicate the system he used at Brentford Palhinha may have some catching up to do. Nørgaard for instance made 100 progressive passes last season alone.
The story is similar when it comes to carrying the ball. Palhinha managed only 3.1 progressive carries per 90 minutes at Bayern slightly ahead of Nørgaard’s 2.7 but behind every Spurs midfielder.
So the question Spurs fans are asking is clear. Will his limited passing range become a problem?
Maybe not. Frank’s Brentford weren’t known for slick possession football. They completed just over 80 percent of their passes last season placing near the bottom of the Premier League. What mattered more was what they did after winning the ball transitions positioning and compact defending.
That’s where Palhinha shines. He brings bite leadership and the ability to consistently disrupt opposition attacks traits Tottenham sorely missed at times last season. He may not thread killer passes through defensive lines but he wins the ball back better than almost anyone.
If the deal goes through Spurs get a proven Premier League enforcer with Champions League experience and no long-term risk. For Palhinha it’s a chance to revive his career and do what he does best in a league that suits his style.
Opposing midfielders might want to start wearing shin pads again.
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