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Aston Villa appear to be leading the race for Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha, with a belief that their bid will be difficult to match. Tuesday’s print edition of A Bola states Benfica will find it ‘difficult to match’ Aston Villa’s effort for the 31-year-old. Premier League is financially stronger Aston Villa’s ‘aggressive entry’ into the race for João Palhinha has created a ‘difficult obstacle’ for Benfica to overcome. Unai Emery’s side have opened negotiations with Bayern for a season-long loan deal. But crucially, they are offering financial terms – regarding the loan fee and wages – that Benfica would find it ‘difficult to match’. Aston Villa chief Damia Vidagany explained at the weekend that talks were underway with their German counterparts regarding a deal. “We need a midfielder because Amadou Onana is out for the entire season – and João Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans,” he said. “We are in talks, but there is currently no agreement. If something were to happen, it would always be based on the great respect we have for Bayern. We are friendly clubs, and our relationship with Max Eberl, Christoph Freund, and all the other officials is excellent. Therefore, I cannot and do not wish to comment on any further details. “I believe Aston Villa would be a great club for the player. In the league, six or seven clubs have a bigger budget than us,” Benfica intend to explore every avenue, hoping to capitalise on Palhinha’s strong relationship with Marco Silva. The midfielder is a top target for the former Fulham coach. They have already spoken and A Bola reports that conversations were positive. The pair built a strong relationship during their two seasons together at Craven Cottage. Palhinha is also considering returning to Portugal to be closer to his family. Benfica are prepared to make a financial push, but they could not match what Aston Villa can pay. Unai Emery key for Aston Villa Sky Germany, meanwhile, provide the German stance on the ongoing transfer saga. According to them, Aston Villa are ‘particularly hopeful’ of securing his signature. They explain that all signs point to a parting of the ways between João Palhinha and Bayern Munich this summer. The Portuguese international is actively considering offers from abroad. The midfielder is no longer a part of Vincent Kompany’s plans and his camp are exploring various transfer possibilities. Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Benfica have all shown concrete interest in him. It is Aston Villa who are considered a strong contender. They’ve already confirmed holding talks and are ‘very optimistic’ about completing the deal. Manager Unai Emery is a key factor. The Spanish coach has made it clear that he would ‘look to rely’ on Palhinha and views him as a valuable addition to his squad. There is also the benefit of Aston Villa being in the Champions League. Those factors, it seems, have put the Villans at the front of the queue.