Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered the race to sign in-demand Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window.
The Portugal international has taken the Premier League by storm since leaving Sporting Lisbon last summer, impressing with a string of tough-tackling midfield displays.
Palhinha has made a league-high 114 tackles in the 2022-23 season - 25 more than closest challengers Moises Caicedo and Tyler Adams - while also scoring four goals in 33 matches across all tournaments.
The 27-year-old penned a five-year contract upon his arrival at Craven Cottage and is therefore not due to become a free agent until 2027, but Fulham's resolve could be tested soon.
Both Liverpool and Manchester United are believed to have been keeping an eye on Palhinha throughout the campaign as they scope out Premier League-proven midfield additions.
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Now, Football Insider reports that the Reds and Red Devils have been joined in the chase by Tottenham and Chelsea, and Fulham are expected to be inundated with bids during the upcoming window.
Palhinha is said to earn in the region of £50,000 per week at Craven Cottage, but he could expect a significant pay rise with a move to a Big Six club for the 2023-24 season.
Fulham can afford to drive a hard bargain given the Portuguese's contract situation, and Marco Silva insisted earlier this month that Palhinha was "happy" at Craven Cottage.
Thanks to Palhinha's efforts, Fulham are still in with a shot of European qualification in the final few weeks of the Premier League season, sitting ninth in the table and five points behind Liverpool in seventh.
The Cottagers hold a six-point lead over Chelsea in 11th, who are highly unlikely to be able to offer Palhinha Champions League football, and the same can be said for Liverpool and Tottenham.
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However, Man United are sitting pretty in fourth place in the table, two points better off than Tottenham - who they face on Thursday - with two games in hand.
The appeal of playing in Europe's top competition could weigh heavily in Man United's favour compared to their Big Six rivals, and the Red Devils are believed to have stepped up their interest in Palhinha in the past couple of weeks.
Erik ten Hag welcomed Marcel Sabitzer to the club on loan from Bayern Munich in January, but it remains to be seen if he will be signed permanently, while Scott McTominay is being linked with an exit amid apparent interest from West Ham United and Newcastle United.
Palhinha will be expected to make his 29th Premier League start of the season when Fulham travel to Champions League outsiders Aston Villa on Tuesday evening.
Ben Knapton
