Liverpool and Tottenham are both interested in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, according to reports in the English media.

The 27-year-old has impressed since making the £20m switch to Craven Cottage in the summer but fans on Twitter are not convinced that he will be moving to Merseyside during the January transfer window:

Why didn’t sign him at sporting ?

— Jeann (@_Jeankwesi) January 9, 2023

He’s going to Spurs that’s clear… #FSGOUT

— Latifa (@LatifaSG8) January 9, 2023

The sad reality is if we were in for a midfield player they would have joined by now. Just like gakpo the deal would have already been done. We’re not bringing anyone else in and that’s that. Klopps happy with midfield apparently

— Scott Mitchell (@ScottLFC1988) January 9, 2023

So basically, Tottenham want's him, and they just throw our name in there to leverage.

— . (@Aduhpt) January 9, 2023

Yes fulham will definitely sell him to us in january . Absolutely 100% .

— Liverpool fan (@Lfcenthusiastt) January 9, 2023

Bought by Fulham for 20 million now valued at 35-45 million. It's a new head of recruitment we need,as well as a new midfield.

— Chris Eyre (@Chris23236702) January 9, 2023

So he’s going to spurs

— Paul Piper (@PaulPIsHere) January 9, 2023

It is believed that the Reds had scouted Palhinha when he was still at Sporting Lisbon but the club ultimately decided not to pursue a deal.

Considering that a similar decision was made to let Matheus Nunes join Wolves, you do have to ask why the club’s recruitment department held off from making offers for the Portuguese pair.

There may have been some doubts about whether they could cut it in England but, especially in Palhinha’s case, he has more than proved himself, and it may now cost Liverpool a lot more money to secure his services.