Benfica are pushing to try to get a João Palhinha deal done after Aston Villa's bid was rejected by FC Bayern, with negotiations now underway club to club.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Benfica have renewed their attempt to sign the Bayern Munich midfielder after Villa's approach did not move forward. That leaves Benfica in a stronger position than they were in June, when they first tried to bring Palhinha back to Portugal on a loan with an option to buy.
At that stage, Bayern turned the proposal down because the overall package was not considered high enough. This time, the idea is that Benfica are trying again after Aston Villa opened the door, and Palhinha has emerged as Benfica's preferred destination if he leaves Munich.
The move would also fit the wider picture around Palhinha's situation in Bavaria. Under Vincent Kompany, he is said to have no role in the current setup, which makes a summer exit increasingly realistic if the clubs can agree terms.
What Benfica may need to offer
The key question now is whether Benfica can build an offer that Bayern will accept. In June, the German club rejected the initial approach because the package did not meet its valuation, and the latest reporting suggests the structure of any deal will matter just as much as the destination.
That leaves Benfica working to find a solution that could send Palhinha home to Portugal for the 2026/27 campaign. For Bayern, the decision will come as they continue preparing for this weekend's Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against BVB, with other squad matters also being discussed around Harry Kane and Said El Mala.
For now, Benfica appear to be the club pushing hardest. If they can turn the current talks into an agreement, Palhinha's next step could be a return to Portugal rather than a move to the Premier League.
