Is Joao Palhinha the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League?

Palhinha had by far the most tackles in the last season.

Palhinha can look back on his first season in the Premier League with great success. He has been one of the standout performers for Fulham and has been among the top defensive midfielders in the Premier League. His performances have caught the attention of several clubs, with Barcelona and West Ham reportedly showing significant interest in the Portuguese player. However, Fulham is not willing to sell him, so it would take a very substantial offer for this to become a reality.

Looking at the statistics for the 2022/23 season, Palhinha leads in several categories, especially tackles, and duels. He is high up on the lists in these areas. Additionally, he holds the record for the most yellow cards in the season, showing that he is a player who really goes for it and isn't afraid to get stuck in. He has been excellent at cleaning up after the midfield and the attacking players when they lose possession while also ensuring the best possible defensive coverage.

Joao Palhinha’s stats in the Premier League 2022/23: 
Games: 35
Goals: 3
Shots: 39
Duels: 474
Duels success: 59.5%
Tackles: 147
Interceptions: 46 
Yellow cards: 14 
Fouls conceded: 48 

Palhinha is the player with the most tackles, recoveries, yellow cards, and he is also the player with the most counter pressing actions.
He has by far the most tackles, which is quite impressive.

Most tackles in the Premier League 2022/23:
1.    Joao Palhinha (147)
2.    Moises Caicedo (100)
3.    Idrissa Gueye (97)
4.    Tyler Adams (89)
5.    Casemiro (89)

Palhinha can certainly look back on a great season at Fulham, and he has made a name for himself in the league that allows him to dream of a move to a bigger club, perhaps even in this transfer window.