Transfer rumours: Palhinha latest, Diaz to Sheffield United, Ngonge to Villa

The Portugal international has apparently emerged as a target for several top European clubs thanks to a string of impressive performances under Marco Silva and saw a summer move to Bayern Munich collapse at the last minute.

The German champions have been expected to reignite their interest in 2024, while Arsenal and Liverpool are also rumoured to have been lining up bids for the ex-Sporting Lisbon man.

However, Fulham have Palhinha under contract until 2028, having tied him down to an extension after his failed Bayern switch, and the Evening Standard reports that the Cottagers expect to keep hold of him over the winter.

While Fulham would supposedly be willing to entertain bids around £60m, interested parties believe that the West London club instead value him closer to the £100m mark, making a winter deal unfeasible.

Palhinha has six goals and one assist to boast from 60 matches in a Fulham shirt and made a whopping 147 tackles in the 2022-23 Premier League season, more than any other top-flight player.

Over at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United have reportedly reached a full agreement to sign Villarreal striker Ben Brereton Diaz on loan for the second half of the season.

The Blades are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with just nine points and 15 goals to their name, the latter being the worst attacking record in the division.

A new marksman has understandably been a priority on Chris Wilder's transfer wishlist, and according to Fabrizio Romano, a deal to bring Brereton Diaz back to England is nearing completion.

The Chile international caught the eye of clubs in England and abroad during a successful spell with Blackburn Rovers, where he netted 47 goals in 177 matches, including 22 alone in the 2021-22 Championship campaign.

Brereton Diaz ran down his Ewood Park contract to join Villarreal on a free transfer this summer, but he has gone 20 games without registering a goal or assist for the Spanish powerhouses.

Romano adds that the 24-year-old's move to Bramall Lane will include no option or obligation to make permanent, and he will therefore head back to Villarreal once the season is finished.

Speaking of agreeing deals, Aston Villa are apparently closing in on the capture of Hellas Verona winger Cyril Ngonge.

The 23-year-old has made a respectable start to his first full season in Serie A, banking five goals and two assists from 17 appearances, being deployed both through the middle and on the right wing.

Ngonge - a former Club Brugge and PSV Eindhoven youth product - departed Groningen in January to join Hellas Verona on a free transfer, and his contract runs until 2026 with the option of a two-year extension.

However, Tuttomercatoweb reports that Aston Villa have agreed a fee of around €10m (£8.6m) for the transfer of Ngonge, although the Lions are yet to agree personal terms with the 23-year-old.

Villa's agreement with Verona may not be enough to prise Ngonge away from Serie A either, as the report adds that the former Belgium youth international is keen to remain in Italy, opening the door to a potential move to Fiorentina.

Aston Villa could be without Emiliano Buendia for the remainder of the season as he recuperates from knee surgery, while Bertrand Traore is away with Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations.

From players arriving in the Premier League to a potential departure, Villarreal-owned Everton winger Arnaut Danjuma is supposedly on the radar of Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

The 26-year-old has only played a peripheral role under Sean Dyche at Goodison Park so far this term, registering two goals in 17 games and making just three Premier League starts.

Danjuma has not made the first XI for a top-flight fixture since September 17, as Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison have cemented themselves as Dyche's first-choice wingers this term.

The Netherlands international is due to remain at Goodison Park for the remainder of the campaign before returning to Villarreal, where he remains under contract for another two-and-a-half years.

However, the Daily Mail now reports that Lyon could try to prise Danjuma away from Merseyside in January as an alternative option to West Ham United's Said Benrahma, who is also on Fulham's wishlist.

Lyon experienced an abysmal start to the Ligue 1 campaign and currently sit 15th in the table, four points clear of the automatic relegation places, although they have won their last three games in the top flight.