West Ham United manager David Moyes is preparing to pursue the signing of Joao Palhinha from Fulham during the upcoming summer transfer window, writes the HammerNews.
According to The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, the West Ham board is fully committed to supporting Moyes financially and is considering moves for several players, including Palhinha.
Recent reports suggest that West Ham was willing to offer £40 million for the 27-year-old midfielder, although Fulham’s asking price is closer to £50 million. With Declan Rice expected to depart, Moyes is keen to strengthen his defensive midfield options at the London Stadium.
Steinberg believes that Moyes will receive the complete backing of the West Ham board this summer, and one of his primary objectives will be to secure the services of the Portuguese international from Craven Cottage. Palhinha is widely regarded as a high-quality player and his arrival would be a significant coup for West Ham.
However, a price tag of £50 million appears excessive for the Portuguese midfielder. In his 34 Premier League appearances for Fulham, the 27-year-old has contributed three goals and has demonstrated solid defensive statistics, including an average of 4.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, and 1.7 clearances per match. He maintains an average pass completion rate of 83.1%, completing around 36.3 passes per game (according to Who Scored).
Undoubtedly, Joao Palhinha possesses the qualities required to thrive in the Premier League and would be an excellent addition to West Ham’s squad. Nevertheless, considering his upcoming age of 28, it seems unwise for the Hammers to invest £50 million in the Fulham player.