Aston Villa are in talks to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha after their squad plans were disrupted by Amadou Onana's cruciate ligament injury sustained at the World Cup. The 31-year-old Portugal international has yet to make a decision but is said to view a move to Villa Park as one of his best options, with Bayern willing to sell him just two years after buying him from Fulham.

Bayern paid £47.4m for Palhinha in 2023, and he spent last season on loan at Tottenham, who chose not to trigger a £26m option to sign him permanently despite manager Roberto de Zerbi's reported interest. Villa director of football Damian Vidagany confirmed talks were under way but said no agreement was yet in place, speaking after Villa lost 2-1 to Bayern in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong in which Palhinha came on as a substitute. The move would add to a busy summer of incomings and outgoings for Unai Emery's side, who have lost Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne while bringing in Alejandro Garnacho, Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi and Moudou Keba Cisse.