Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has declined to elaborate on the club's reported interest in Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha, though he acknowledged that the Portuguese international is attracting attention from multiple clubs. Villa are believed to have held positive discussions with Bayern over a potential transfer, but the Bundesliga side is seeking a permanent solution rather than a straight loan back to the Premier League.
Palhinha's Season at Tottenham
Palhinha spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 45 appearances across all competitions and scored seven goals. His contributions included crucial strikes against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton, helping Spurs secure their top-flight status in a challenging campaign.
According to reports, Villa's interest in Palhinha has been concrete, with talks described as positive. However, Bayern's preference for a permanent transfer could complicate any deal, as Villa may have hoped to negotiate another loan arrangement.
Emery's Press Conference Comments
During his pre-match press conference ahead of the UEFA Super Cup final, Emery was asked directly about Palhinha. He responded: "It's difficult to focus on a game if we're thinking about the players that can come. In the final weeks of the transfer window, we are a club that players can still leave."
He added: "I don't want to talk about an individual player but you ask about Palhinha and we all know him in the world of football, he's a player who's got a lot of interest from a number of teams. But for us, we're going to concentrate on tomorrow's match which is important enough for us. I'm not going to speak more about players who could be available in the market, or those who could leave or join."
Super Cup Final Against PSG
Aston Villa are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday, August 12, in Austria. The match pits the Europa League winners against the Champions League holders. Fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports via HBO Max or Prime Video's HBO Max channel.
The fixture represents a significant occasion for Villa, who are competing in their first Super Cup final. Emery's focus remains firmly on the match, with transfer business taking a back seat for now.
