Aston Villa is engaged in negotiations with Bayern Munich over a potential transfer for Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha, as the club seeks to strengthen its squad ahead of the upcoming season. Palhinha, 32, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, is viewed by Villa’s manager Unai Emery as a key target to fill the void left by Amadou Onana, who is expected to be sidelined for the entirety of the campaign due to injury.

Palhinha, who previously played for Fulham, is considered a seasoned defensive midfielder and would fit into Villa’s strategic plans. Damian Vidagany, Villa’s director of football, confirmed that discussions with Bayern Munich are ongoing but emphasized that no agreement has been reached yet. Vidagany also highlighted the club’s respect for Bayern and framed Aston Villa as an attractive destination for the player, despite budget constraints compared to some Premier League rivals. “In the league, six or seven clubs have a bigger budget than us. Nevertheless, we have qualified for international competitions every year for the past four years. That is down to our project, our work as a team and Unai Emery, who is one of the best coaches in the world,” he said.

In addition to midfield reinforcements, Villa is close to finalizing a £17 million deal for Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri from Atletico Madrid. The 24-year-old is reportedly prepared to accept the offer, which comes as Lucas Digne is set to move to Paris Saint-Germain. The addition of Ruggeri aims to bolster the club’s defensive options ahead of the new campaign.