Fulham are confident of keeping Joao Palhinha through the January transfer window.
Palhinha travelled to Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day in September, but his £58million move to the Bundesliga giants fell through after Fulham failed to secure a replacement.
Within a fortnight, the Portugal international had signed a contract extension until 2028, with an option for a further year.
The 28-year-old £17m signing has continued to be linked with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern, but Fulham’s valuation of Palhinha — close to £100m — is seen as off-putting.
Even though there is no release clause on his new contract and Fulham would consider bids closer to £60m, Palhinha is now viewed as an expensive option in defensive midfield. Bayern’s interest has waned for this reason, and the Bavarian club have other targets who they expect to be more affordable.
Fulham remain interested in Fluminense’s Andre, and they would take active steps to sign him if Palhinha was sold this January. But Palhinha’s immediate exit is now unlikely, while Andre has plenty of other Premier League admirers, including Liverpool.
Andre, 22, stated his desire to move to the Premier League following Fluminense’s Club World Cup Final defeat to Manchester City.
Fulham will not target midfielders this month and have been boosted by captain Tom Cairney signing a one-year contract extension.
