Ahead of the UEFA Super Cup, Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery was reluctant to discuss the club’s reported interest in Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha, despite acknowledging that several clubs, including Villa, have shown interest in the player.
The midfielder, currently affiliated with Bayern Munich, is a subject of ongoing transfer talks between Villa and the German side. However, Bayern Munich appear to be seeking a permanent arrangement for Palhinha’s future, rather than agreeing to a straightforward loan back to the Premier League.
Palhinha spent the previous season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 45 appearances in all competitions and scored seven goals. His contributions included pivotal strikes against Wolves and Everton during Spurs’ fight to remain in the top tier.
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When asked about the potential transfer in his press conference, Emery stated, “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.
“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.”
Emery’s comments underline the club’s cautious approach during this active transfer period, as they prepare for an important fixture while managing ongoing player movements.