Man United Faces Setback as £34m Midfielder Danilo Prefers Move to Newcastle
Manchester United have encountered a fresh challenge in their attempt to sign Danilo, a midfielder valued at around £34 million, who seems inclined to join Newcastle United instead. Despite strengthening their midfield this summer with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, United still lack a direct successor for Casemiro, who left after his contract ended in June.
Ederson from Atalanta BC was close to a move during the World Cup, but that transfer fell through due to medical concerns. Ederson has now renewed his deal with Atalanta, forcing Manchester United to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements. Several names have surfaced, including Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Danilo, who previously played in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
Danilo Leans Toward Newcastle
Reports emerged earlier this month about Manchester United initiating talks with Botafogo for Danilo, who carries a price tag of £34 million from the Brazilian club. Yet sources close to Danilo suggest he views a move to Newcastle as more appealing, given the promise of regular playing time amid the Magpies' ongoing midfield overhaul.
Newcastle recently sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £92.5 million. Meanwhile, Arsenal remains interested in Bruno Guimaraes and might soon offer around £70 million to Newcastle. Joelinton is also rumored to attract interest from Saudi Arabian clubs. Newcastle has contacted Botafogo regarding Danilo’s availability; his contract runs through 2029.
Other contenders like Palmeiras and Zenit St Petersburg showed interest, but Botafogo resists selling to direct competitors, and Danilo is reportedly not keen on moving to Russia. The 25-year-old has Premier League experience, featuring in 50 matches for Nottingham Forest with five goals, and boasts seven goals plus two assists in 13 Brasileiro appearances this season.
Does Man United Still Need Another Midfielder?
Even with several midfield options available under Michael Carrick's guidance, doubts linger over whether Manchester United has fully solved their midfield puzzle. Manuel Ugarte is sidelined long-term due to a knee injury, leaving players like Santos, Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Dan Gore, and Tyler Fletcher capable of filling deeper roles.
Among those, Gore, Fletcher, and Collyer lack extensive top-flight experience. Collyer, the oldest at 22, had limited game time last season with just 17 appearances across West Bromwich Albion and Hull City. While Collyer naturally plays as a number six, United may still want a reliable defensive midfielder who can break up opposition play, especially against stronger teams when Carrick opts against using multiple midfielders like Santos, Tielemans, and Mainoo together.
