Report: Bayern Munich close to signing Portugal's Palhinha

Portugal's Joao Palhinha plays the ball during a soccer match against France at the Puskas Arena. Robert Michael/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

Bayern Munich are close to signing Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha from Fulham after failing to get him last year, Sky TV reported on Wednesday.

The report said that Bayern will pay a transfer fee of €46 million ($50 million), plus add-ons.

Palhinha, 28, is to receive a contract until 2028, with the deal to be completed after a medical which will not take place until after Euro 2024 where Portugal face France in the quarter-finals on Friday.

There has been no official confirmation from either of the two clubs.

Bayern already wanted the holding midfielder last summer but a deal collapsed on transfer deadline day because Fulham couldn't get a replacement.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez had recently encouraged Bayern to sign Palhinha.

"He is not only good enough for Bayern, he would even make Bayern stronger. He makes players around him better. He deserves everything that is coming. And he is even better as a human being," Martinez said.