I really don't think he's for the long-term - it seems to me that the club puts a great deal of hope in Bergvall and Gray to be the long-term solutions in central midfield.
It's more a loan that acknowledges that a) we have a shortage of first-team-ready central midfielders who can defend well enough to shield the backline, and b) Palhinha is available for dirt cheap, and addresses that shortage for the moment. Certainly he's cheaper than Norgaard, who fulfills a similar role and is a similar age but went to the Goons.
It's weird though that this is a consistent trend with players we buy to be pure 'enforcers' - they're never long-term solutions, whether through chance or deliberately. Since 2008, we've signed Palacios, Sandro, Parker, Stambouli, Wanyama, and now Palhinha.
Palacios was the victim of circumstance. Sandro and Wanyama were cripped by injuries early. Stambouli was dirt-cheap bargain bin, and fared accordingly. Parker was a wise old head for a few seasons, and Palhinha might end up being that type too. But none last.