Manchester United have turned their attention to Brazil international Danilo after walking away from a deal for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who the Cherries value at £70m. The Red Devils had bid rejected for Scott, Chelsea’s £64m offer was also turned down earlier this week, and United’s valuation of the England midfielder is around £40m – a gap that has forced them to look elsewhere.
Now, according to BBC Sport, United have registered their interest in Danilo, the 25-year-old who plays for Brazilian side Botafogo. Danilo made four appearances off the bench for Brazil at the World Cup under Carlo Ancelotti, and he is no stranger to English football: he spent two and a half years at Nottingham Forest before moving to Botafogo for £21.7m a year ago.
“Man Utd target Danilo after pulling out of Alex Scott deal over £70m price tag.”
At Forest, Danilo made 62 appearances across all competitions, though his third season was disrupted by a serious ankle injury. “It was really tough at first, but with time it got easier,” he told FIFA’s website before the World Cup. “I started to understand things differently. I matured a lot. I became stronger and learned to think more positively every day. After that injury, I developed this mindset.”
This season, Danilo has been prolific: seven league goals and three in cup competitions for Botafogo, who sit 10th in the Brazilian top flight after 18 games (seven wins, four draws, seven defeats). Botafogo have already received two offers in the region of £25m – from Brazilian rivals Palmeiras, where Danilo made his name over three seasons, and Russian side Zenit St Petersburg. Palmeiras are pushing hardest, but Botafogo would prefer to sell abroad.
United have already signed two midfielders this summer: Andrey Santos for £50m and Youri Tielemans for £35m. Danilo is one of several options; the club has also enquired about Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni. Newcastle were interested in Danilo earlier this summer too. With Bournemouth holding out for £70m for Scott, United’s search for a third midfielder now appears to be heading to South America.