Fulham demand £90MILLION for Joao Palhinha as West Ham target the Portuguese midfielder
EXCLUSIVE: Fulham are demanding £90M for Joao Palhinha as West Ham target the Portuguese midfielder as a possible successor to Declan Rice
- Fulham hopes to discourage Joao Palhinha’s potential suitors with their appreciation
- West Ham are among the clubs interested in signing the defensive midfielder
- The Hammers’ asking price of £100 million for Rice has been used as a benchmark
Fulham have slapped a remarkable £90 million valuation on Joao Palhinha in a bid to dissuade would-be suitors, including West Ham, from signing their defensive midfielder this summer.
Senior sources at Fulham say they are using the £100 million asking price for Declan Rice as a benchmark. West Ham are among the clubs interested in Palhinha as a replacement for Rice.
Palhinha is 27 years old, while Rice is only 24 – and is not considered to be of the same level of quality – but Fulham feel in a strong position with their player tied until 2027.
Interested rivals won’t cherish Fulham’s £90 million fee, but could test their resolve with lower offers, with most feeling the tough midfielder is worth closer to £50 million.
Palhinha has impressed since joining Fulham from Sporting Lisbon for £20 million last summer.
Fulham will demand £90 million from clubs interested in signing midfielder Joao Palhinha
West Ham are interested in Palhinha if captain Declan Rice leaves the club this summer
Fulham have used West Ham’s £100 million valuation of Rice as a yardstick for Palhinha
The 27-year-old quickly established himself as a key part of Marco Silva’s side who defied odds by finishing comfortably in the top half of the table.
Palhinha made 40 appearances in all competitions for the Cottagers in his debut season with the club.
The Portugal international anchored a robust Fulham midfield and led the league with 147 tackles last season.
His outstanding performances also sparked interest from all of the Premier League’s top six, with both Manchester United and Liverpool reportedly eyeing the defensive midfielder.
West Ham are reportedly interested in Ajax star Edson Alvarez, should a move for Palhinha prove fruitless.
The Mexico international has made an impression since joining Ajax from America in 2019 and has won two Eredivisie titles in his time in the Netherlands.
West Ham would face competition from Borussia Dortmund for the 25-year-old’s signature, as the club had signed Alvarez ahead of a possible move to second place in the Bundesliga.