Matthias Jaissle and Unai Emery are at St James’ Park and Villa Park, respectively. Newcastle United have tabled a three-year contract offer to Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha after Aston Villa’s negotiations for the player collapsed, according to journalist Diego Pico.
Although Villa had reportedly agreed personal terms with Palhinha, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl publicly confirmed there was “no chance of an agreement” due to the Europa League champions’ preference to sanction an initial loan deal. With Bayern seeking a permanent transfer, Newcastle are looking to swoop for the Portugal international.
Signing Palhinha would address a critical need for Newcastle after high-profile summer departures left the Magpies’ midfield severely depleted.
Palhinha’s Premier League experience makes him an ideal fit. After impressing at Fulham, the 31-year-old spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, featuring in 33 matches across all competitions and playing a key role in Spurs’ late-season rally, which saw them secure top-flight safety on the final day against Everton. His tackling and ball-winning stats consistently rank among the best in Europe, providing the defensive solidity Newcastle need.
Newcastle’s willingness to complete a permanent deal puts them in a strong position in talks with Bayern Munich. The Bavarian side paid €51m to sign Palhinha in 2024, but manager Vincent Kompany has indicated the Portuguese international is surplus to requirements for 2026-27. As a result, Bayern prefer an immediate sale to reinvest before the window closes next month.
With a three-year contract offer now on the table, the decision rests with the player, who is keen to remain in English football and was open to joining Spurs permanently before they opted not to retain him.
Portuguese giants Benfica are also interested in Palhinha, but they are unwilling to pursue a permanent transfer.