With Nottingham Forest poised to finalize a deal for Palmeiras midfielder Danilo, Arsenal is anticipated to miss out on a long-term transfer goal.
The Gunners were prepared to sign Danilo in the January transfer window and have been linked with a deal for the outstanding 21-year-old. The Brazilian is now prepared to join Steve Cooper’s team ahead of the season’s second half after Forest snatched the Brazilian away from Arsenal.
The Daily Mail reports that after Monaco made a last-minute offer to sign Danilo, Forest beat out a host of other European clubs for his services. The transaction is huge, as the player involved would cost roughly £18 million plus add-ons, ranking him behind Morgan Gibbs-White as Forest’s most expensive player.
As Cooper attempts to bolster his team, Danilo will follow fellow Brazilian Gustavo Scarpa through The City Ground’s doors and become their second January arrival. Following a 1-1 tie after extra time, Forest defeated Wolves on penalties on Wednesday to advance to the Carabao Cup semifinal.
Since the Reds were then paired with Manchester United in the semifinals, this might be even another factor in Danilo’s decision to join Forest. Cooper’s team is only two points above the bottom three and is still firmly involved in a relegation fight.
This weekend’s East Midlands derby between Forest and Leicester, with Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes now in 13th place and the Reds in 15th, could have a significant impact on the relegation battle.
Danilo might have a significant impact on Forest’s hopes to remain in the Premier League this season, even though it is highly improbable that he will be signed in time to play Leicester.
After the match with Leicester, Forest will play Bournemouth, Leeds, and Fulham in the league, so this feels like a crucial time for them, and Danilo’s presence might help them gain additional points. After making his first-team debut in 2020, Danilo, who rose through the ranks at Palmeiras, has made 138 appearances and scored 12 goals.
It is a setback for Arsenal because Arteta is eager to add players to his squad during the transfer period. The Gunners have only dropped seven points in the Premier League this year and have only lost once, to Manchester United in September.
Since the beginning of the season, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard have formed a fairly solid midfield three for Arsenal. However, the Gunners are keen to add to their midfield ranks since Partey and Xhaka are both 29 and entering the latter parts of their careers.
