FC Bayern Munich is actively seeking to offload midfielder João Palhinha, who has returned from his loan spell. A promising new opportunity for the club has now surfaced.

Benfica Lisbon is reportedly keen on acquiring the 31-year-old midfielder. Portugal’s most decorated club is preparing a bid of €20 million, potentially supplemented by €5 million in performance-related bonuses. This offer aligns with FC Bayern’s asking price of €25 million for Palhinha.

• Should this transfer materialize, it is expected to generate significant buzz. Palhinha developed through the youth ranks of Sporting CP, Benfica’s fierce city rival, where he made 95 official appearances. Prior to a Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Benfica in autumn 2024, he described the encounter as a “special match” and surprisingly revealed that, despite his Sporting past, his family were predominantly Benfica supporters.

  The midfielder has openly expressed his willingness to move to the red side of Lisbon, which would see him reunite with coach Marco Silva. Palhinha previously played under Silva at Fulham in the Premier League before his transfer to Munich.

• João Palhinha’s journey with FC Bayern began in 2024, with a substantial €51 million transfer fee.

  Earlier whispers suggested his former club, Sporting CP, also held an interest in bringing him back. However, the Lisbon-based club was unable to meet the financial demands. Furthermore, Juventus Turin and AC Milan are reportedly now also monitoring the situation.

  Palhinha departed Fulham for Bayern Munich in 2024 for €51 million but struggled to establish himself within the squad. He featured in just 25 official matches for the Bavarian giants, primarily coming off the bench. Last summer, he was loaned to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for a fee of €5 million. Despite narrowly avoiding relegation, the London club ultimately opted against activating the agreed-upon purchase option.

  If the move to Benfica proceeds, Palhinha would become the fifth player returning from loan whom Bayern has permanently transferred this summer. This follows the departures of Alexander Nübel to Besiktas, Daniel Peretz to Southampton, Maurice Krattenmacher to Elversberg, and Jonah Kusi-Asare to Fulham.