What £60m star has already said about Fulham summer transfer

Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has once again been linked with a summer exit from Craven Cottage with serious interest coming from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

The German outfit were close to signing the ball-winner for £58 million last year but that summer move fell through on Deadline Day as the Premier League side failed to find a suitable replacement on time.

Palhinha refused to let the failed move define his season and turned in an impressive campaign in the Premier League. The Portuguese international even put pen to paper on a new deal at the Cottage last September, extending his contract to 2028 with a club option for another year.

However, Bayern Munich are once again being credited with serious transfer interest in the player this summer. It had emerged that the European club made a £30 million bid for Palhinha having agreed personal terms this week.

The Evening Standard now reports that the fee will need to be substantially more for Fulham to consider green lighting a transfer move for the defensive midfielder. The outlet claims that the Cottagers have slapped a £60 million price tag on the 28-year-old, who made 39 appearances in all competitions last season. The club does not feel his value has deteriorated.

In February, Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan did hint that Palhinha's new deal wouldn't mean that a summer exit was off the cards, saying that "if an offer came along that would make sense for everyone I think that’s something you have to consider”.

As Fulham supporters wait to see what comes from renewed Bayern Munich interest, Palhinha had previously hinted at what his stance may be on a summer move. In May, the midfielder told Flashscore: “At the moment, today, the likelihood is I stay at Fulham, but we'll see what happens. I have immense respect for the Fulham organisation, people know what a professional I am and that's the example I want to pass on to the many kids who follow me and look up to me."

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Speaking specifically on Bayern Munich interest, he added: “I don't know if it's a closed door or not, everything in football is very uncertain.

“I can't say it's a closed or open door. I can't put myself in a position like that either. Today I want to focus more on the European Championships because that's the goal, to leave a good impression at the Euros, and then everything else will follow.

"People already know me. The fact that I'm in the Premier League means I'm in a very big shop window, probably the biggest of them all. The Euros is also a showcase that everyone is following all over the world."