Aston Villa in talks to sign Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich

Aston Villa are currently in talks with Bayern Munich regarding the transfer of 31-year-old midfielder Joao Palhinha. The Birmingham-based club identified the Portugal international as a primary target following a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained by Amadou Onana while representing Belgium at the World Cup.

Villa's director of football, Damian Vidagany, confirmed to the media that discussions are underway, although no agreement has been reached yet. He emphasized the club's respect for Bayern during the process. Sources indicate that while Palhinha has not made a final decision, a move to Villa Park is considered a strong option for the player.

Palhinha spent the previous season on loan at Tottenham, but the north London side chose not to trigger their £26m buy option. Bayern, who signed the midfielder from Fulham for £47.4m two years ago, are now open to his departure.

The move is seen as a crucial step for Unai Emery's side, which has seen several high-profile exits this summer, including Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne. While Villa have already added new faces to the squad, securing a reliable presence in midfield remains a key objective for the upcoming campaign.