Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Palmeiras star Danilo after the Brazilian club crashed out of the Copa Libertadores.
According to Give Me Sport, Arsenal are confident of signing Brazilian midfielder Danilo in January. The circumstances around the 21-year-old player have changed, with Palmeiras reportedly willing to enter negotiations after crashing out of Copa Libertadores.
Brazilian footballers, clubs and the general culture around the game in the country lean more on the emotional side. For their stars, representing their native clubs or the national side at the biggest tournaments is enormous, and they do not devalue that at any cost.
Palmeiras, who have won the last two editions of the Copa Libertadores, consider the competition and the subsequent place in the Club World Cup their ‘holy grail’. That could have been why they refused to part ways with influential midfielder Danilo in the past.
Arsenal have kept tabs on the Brazilian midfielder for at least two windows now. The Gunners reportedly made an offer before the summer transfer deadline, only for Palmeiras to turn down their proposal. The north Londoners could be back in the hunt in January; this time, they are confident of opening talks.
Palmeiras are pointing towards the reported £86 million release clause in Danilo’s contract, but no club will pay such huge sums. The Gunners may have to negotiate their way and come to an understanding with the Brazilian club for the midfielder.
Danilo is highly-rated by those in charge of player recruitment at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta needs a new defensive midfielder in his ranks, as the club relies heavily on Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian midfielder’s injury record also adds to the pressure, as the team underperforms in his absence.
Danilo would be the right cover for Partey, and Arteta could develop him into the Ghanaian’s heir in the future. A move away from Brazil would be significant for the midfielder to consider, but it would be a big step toward furthering his career.
Danilo also has also courted interest from other clubs. But with Arsenal chasing the Brazilian midfielder for some time, they may have the upper hand. Whether they make the signing happen in January remains to be seen.
He will undoubtedly add quality depth to Arteta’s squad and help with their chase of a probable Premier League title in the second half of the season. First and foremost, Arsenal will have to make their interest official and then negotiate a price for the 21-year-old Palmeiras star.
