Man United Faces Setback as £34m Midfielder Prefers Newcastle Transfer
Manchester United have encountered a hurdle in their attempts to sign Danilo, who reportedly sees Newcastle United as a more appealing destination this summer. Despite adding Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to their midfield, the Red Devils have yet to replace Casemiro after his contract ended in June.
Atalanta BC's Ederson nearly joined United during the World Cup period, but the transfer fell through, allegedly because of medical concerns. Ederson has since renewed his contract with Atalanta, forcing Manchester United to explore other midfield options. Names like Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga have come up, along with Danilo, who played for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Danilo Shows Preference for Newcastle
Earlier this month, reports indicated that Manchester United had started negotiations for Danilo, valued around £34 million by Botafogo. But sources close to the player suggest he is leaning towards a move to Newcastle, where consistent playing time seems more assured amid the Magpies' midfield overhaul.
Newcastle recently sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £92.5 million. Meanwhile, Arsenal are expected to submit a £70 million bid for Bruno Guimaraes. On top of that, Joelinton might attract interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia. Newcastle has already reached out to Botafogo about Danilo, whose contract runs until 2029.
Though Palmeiras and Zenit St Petersburg showed interest, Botafogo prefers not to strengthen rivals, and Danilo is not keen on moving to Russia. The 25-year-old has appeared 50 times in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest, scoring five goals, and boasts seven goals with two assists in just 13 matches this season in Brazil.
Is Another Midfielder Needed at Man United?
Despite having seven potential players for deeper midfield roles, it feels like Manchester United still lacks completeness. Michael Carrick oversees a group including Manuel Ugarte, sidelined long-term by injury, alongside Santos, Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Dan Gore, and Tyler Fletcher—all capable of operating in a double pivot system.
Gore, Fletcher, and Collyer have limited top-tier experience; Collyer, the oldest among them at 22, played only 17 games last season for West Bromwich Albion and Hull City. While Collyer is familiar with the number six position, facing stronger opponents without risking a midfield pairing of Santos, Tielemans, and Mainoo highlights the value of a new holding midfielder skilled at breaking up play.
