Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed what his sources are telling him about Joao Palhinha’s future at Tottenham.Tottenham have the option to sign Palhinha permanently for £22m when the summer transfer window opens, and Roberto De Zerbi has said that the midfielder is part of his plans.However, a deal could end up slipping away from the Lilywhites’ grasp, with reports indicating that Palhinha could snub a move to Tottenham in favour of a return to Portugal due to personal reasons.In fact, A Bola even claimed recently that Sporting Lisbon’s negotiations with the Spurs star are accelerating, with a return to his former stomping ground on the cards for the 30-year-old.Credit: @thefrederikkejensen / InstagramJoao Palhinha is not holding transfer talks amid Tottenham’s quest for survivalSky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has now confirmed that Sporting have indeed expressed an interest in the former Fulham man.However, he dismissed A Bola’s claim, asserting that Palhinha is currently not negotiating with any club as he is fully focused on ensuring that Spurs stay in the Premier League.Plettenberg wrote on X: “Sporting CP are seriously interested in signing Joao Palhinha in the summer and have opened talks. His future at Tottenham remains open. Roberto De Zerbi wants to keep him after. Understand Palhinha is currently not in negotiations with any club, as he is fully focused on staying up with Tottenham. Decisions will only be made afterwards. Contract at Bayern until 2028.”🚨🔙 Sporting CP are seriously interested in signing Joao Palhinha in the summer and have opened talks.His future at Tottenham remains open. Roberto De Zerbi wants to keep him after @abolapt. Understand Palhinha is currently not in negotiations with any club, as he is fully… pic.twitter.com/GCxTWYTyDD— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 18, 2026 Spurs are making alternative plans amid Palhinha uncertainityAmid the uncertainty over the future of the 30-year-old, it appears that the Lilywhites are making some contingency plans.This is according to a recent update from Football Insider, which claimed that Tottenham are scouring the market for central midfielders as they fear they will not be able to secure Palhinha.The outlet asserted that De Zerbi’s men are keen to add at least one central midfielder to their squad this summer.READ MORE: Tottenham handed Maghnes Akliouche transfer warning that could end £60m dreamThe post Journalist dismisses latest update on Joao Palhinha’s Tottenham future to ease De Zerbi worries appeared first on Spurs Web.