Fulham have given Joao Palhinha permission to fly to Germany to complete a move to Bayern Munich, according to reports.
The Cottagers are not expected to let the Portuguese midfielder leave the club until they have a replacement lined up.
Marco Silva is reportedly interested in bringing in Manchester United’s Scott McTominay or Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, while there have been some rumours linking them with Red Devils target Sofyan Amrabat.
United are believed to be reluctant to sell McTominay but Hojbjerg is not in Ange Postecoglou’s plans in north London so seems to be the most realistic option.
Palhinha’s move to Bayern is expected to be one of the biggest sagas on deadline day and it has been widely reported that he is on his way to Munich.
According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, there is a ‘green light for the flight’ but no medical is booked.
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This is because ‘more details have to be clarified’, including the signing of a replacement at Craven Cottage.
Plettenberg adds that there is a ‘total agreement’ between Fulham and Bayern, with the Bundesliga champions expected to pay a €65million (£56.6million) transfer fee.
The Portuguese international is ‘on his way to Munich’ at the time of writing and will sign a five-year contract, it is added.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports says Fulham will only let Palhinha leave if they get a new defensive midfielder through the door with McTominay and Hojbjerg their top two targets.
SPORT1 journalist Patrick Berger says the two clubs will agree a £58m fee after Cottagers head coach Silva gave the ‘green light’.
Berger has also reported that Bayern are interested in signing Southampton and Germany centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap.
Borussia Dortmund had also been interested but have ended their interest, with the Saints apparently asking for a €3.5m loan fee.
Should negotiations between Bayern and Southampton collapse, the German giants will go for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, Berger adds.
The Bavarian outfit have also been linked with Tottenham’s Eric Dier.
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