Fulham
Premier League • England
Joao Palhinha: Pundit points out why failed Fulham move could cause Bayern dressing-room unrest
Joao Palhinha of Fulham arrives at Craven Cottage
Bayern Munich’s dramatic failed attempt to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha could end up causing problems in both dressing rooms, according to former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann.
The German feels that some of the more senior players in Bayern’s dressing room will be asking questions about the pursuit of the Portuguese midfielder in the first place.
The reigning Bundesliga champions looked set to complete a move for Palhinha on Friday, having agreed a deal with the Cottagers earlier in the week.
The 28-year-old had travelled to Bavaria for a medical and completed the necessary paperwork at Bayern’s end ahead of a deal being finalised.
However, everything fell through at the last minute as Fulham refused to sign off on his exit after failing to land a replacement for Palhinha.
Marco Silva wanted to get Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on board but after that failed to come to fruition, Fulham had no choice but to back away from the deal.
And Hamann, who started his career in Munich, has shared his thoughts on why the failed transfer could cause plenty of debate in the Bayern dressing room.
He told Sky Sports: “Tuchel has denied the ability of all his sixes and eights. He said he doesn’t have a defensive midfielder.
“Now the club is ready to pay 65 million euros for a player from Fulham! Not from Manchester United or Barcelona, from Fulham! What is a Kimmich, a Laimer, a Guerreiro, whoever, thinking?
“You need a hierarchy. If you don’t have a hierarchy in the team, you have nothing. Should Kimmich say something in the dressing room now: Is anyone else listening? I don’t know. That’s the biggest problem.”
Fulham are back in action on September 16 when they face Luton in the Premier League, by which time they will hope that Palhinha is ready to return to action.