Bayern Munich offer £50m for Fulham's Joao Paligno after Trevo Chalobah doubts

Earlier this summer, West Ham were on the hunt for Joao Palina, but Bayern Munich are now looking for the midfielder. Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Redington

Bayern Munich will offer up to £50m for Fulham midfielder João Paligna.

The German giants have turned to the Portuguese as doubts grow over whether they can close a deal to sign Trevo Chalobah from Chelsea.< /p>

Chalobah talks are ongoing but sources suggest a move for Paligny is now more likely before the Friday deadline, although Fulham are expected to demand a much higher fee than Bayern are willing to offer for the 28-year-old.

West Ham United had inquired about Paligna earlier in the transfer window but were put on hold by Fulham's demands for at least £60m plus hefty surcharges, bringing the package total to £80m.

< p>Fulham manager Marco Silva, who moved Palinho to the club from Sporting CP last summer for around £20m on a five-year deal with an option for another 12 months, is determined to keep such a key player, especially after the loss of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi club Al -Hilal.

«He's one of the key players for us and he was like that last season,» Silva said of Palinha. «That's one of the reasons why I went out of my way to sign him, and it's one of the reasons the club went to great lengths to keep him in the last few months.»

Bayern are pursuing Paligna because of Chelsea's high demands for the transfer of Trevor Chalob. Photo: Getty Images/Chris Lee

The problem for Fulham is whether Paligna will try to secure a move to Bayern, given the club's size and ambitions in the Champions League.

Paligna scored in » Fulham» and became the club's best player after his first campaign in the Premier League and in English football. The midfielder recently returned from a shoulder injury and scored the last equalizing goal against Arsenal last Saturday.

Bayern tried to negotiate a deal for Chalob, who previously worked under manager Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, but then there remains a significant gap between the commission they are willing to pay and the asking price. There is currently no chance that the 24-year-old, who can play in both midfield and defense, will be released on loan.