Agreed. We should instead go for the player who replaced him at Sporting, Ugarte, or something like that. He tackles as well but passes and carries better.
Palhinha is better defensively particularly with tackling but he is also a old school CDM.
Ugarte as you pointed out is much better with the ball on his feet but he is also more of a defensive minded box to box midfielder.Insane engine, he never stops running and essentially plays a two man midfield alone.
Due to injuries in midfield this season Pedro Gonçalves has had to revert back to his CM days, though he is vary attack minded which leads Ugarte to carry the defensive mold all by himself.
Teams went and paid 100M for Enzo but I think Ugarte is a similar player and is as well only 21 years of age and would cost much lower (safer buy with resale value). Based on Ugarte performance at the Emirates where he man handled the league leaders midfield I think he will adapt seamlessly to the pace and level of the EPL.
a nice write up here:
His buy out clause is set at 60M but Sporting does not have the selling power or Benfica and I believe Ugarte will be available for far less at 45M with objectives included.
I raved about Palhinha for the last two season so it’s no surprise for me they he has been arguably the best if not second best CDM in the league alongside Casemiro this season.
I will say the same thing about Ugarte. Whoever gets him for 45M or less is commuting daylight robbery.
There is only one other player at Sporting besides Ugarte that I am convinced and have no doubt he will be a top player.