Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has directly responded to speculation on whether Joao Palhinha will complete a permanent move to Tottenham.Tottenham have the option to sign Palhinha permanently for £22m this summer, but the Lilywhites are no longer guaranteed to exercise that option.The 30-year-old has not been a regular in Spurs’ starting eleven of late, and the change in management at the North London club has put a question mark around his future.That is according to TEAMtalk, who said that while Tottenham would have signed Palhinha permanently if Thomas Frank had been at the club, the Dane’s sacking has plunged the midfielder’s future into uncertainty.Credit: @thefrederikkejensen / InstagramBayern Munich director makes Joao Palhinha admission amid ‘difficult’ Tottenham situationSome sources from Germany have even suggested over recent weeks that Palhinha is expected to return to Bayern at the end of the season, with the Bundesliga club’s hopes of getting a financial windfall from Tottenham for the player diminishing.The German club’s director, Christoph Freund, has now admitted that Tottenham are in a ‘difficult’ situation at the moment, but suggested that the Lilywhites are aware of the Portugal international’s quality.Freund said (via Fabrizio Romano): “The situation at Tottenham is difficult. Joao is a fighter; he had a great start at Tottenham. The focus is entirely on avoiding relegation; Tottenham know what they have in him.”Spurs could ask for a discount from Bayern for PalhinhaThis update from Fruend comes just a couple of days after Florian Plettenberg revealed that Tottenham are happy with the experienced midfielder’s performances this term, but do not want to pay £22m.The journalist suggested that Spurs are expected to ask for a discount from Bayern for Palhinha when the transfer window reopens.The Lilywhites may face competition for the 30-year-old as Fulham are monitoring Palhinha’s situation and are keen to take the player back to Craven Cottage when the transfer window reopens in the summer.READ MORE: Destiny Udogie injury update: Roberto De Zerbi name drops Souza in Tottenham press conferenceThe post ‘Tottenham know’ – Bayern Munich director on Joao Palhinha’s potential £22m move to Spurs appeared first on Spurs Web.