Roberto De Zerbi has expressed his strong desire to retain Joao Palhinha on a permanent deal after the midfielder's crucial goal secured Tottenham's Premier League survival. The Portuguese international scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Everton on the final day of the season, ensuring Spurs avoided relegation for the first time since 1977.
Palhinha's strike came just before half-time, converting a rebound after his initial header hit the post. The result, combined with West Ham's win over Leeds, kept Tottenham in the top flight due to a superior goal difference. De Zerbi praised Palhinha's contributions, highlighting his winning goal against Wolves earlier in the run-in as pivotal to the team's revival.
Speaking after the match, De Zerbi confirmed his wish to trigger the permanent transfer option included in Palhinha's loan from Bayern Munich, reportedly worth around £22 million. 'Yes, I would like to keep him, 100 per cent,' the head coach said. 'We have to start from these people. Before we speak about the players, we have to speak about the people.'
De Zerbi also mentioned Conor Gallagher and Rodrigo Bentancur as key figures he wants to build around, emphasising the need for depth in every position. Palhinha's future remains uncertain, but the manager's comments suggest a strong intent to secure his services beyond the current campaign.
