Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a January move for Palmeiras star Danilo to continue their Premier League title charge.
The Gunners went into the World Cup break top of the table, five points above defending champions and second-placed Manchester City. The club are ready to back manager Mikel Arteta to strengthen their push for the title and a new midfielder is among their top priorities.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are planning to act on their long-standing interest in Danilo and make a move in January. The north London club have extensively scouted the Palmeiras midfielder and want to bring him to the Emirates Stadium as cover for the likes of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
Danilo, 21, has already racked up 141 appearances for Palmeiras despite his tender age, scoring 12 goals so far. The defensive midfielder’s impressive performances have seen Brazil coach Tite call him up into the squad earlier this year, but is yet to be capped.
Arsenal have previously discussed a deal of over £20million for Danilo with Palmeiras and are ready to return for further talks in December, the report adds.
Danilo to Arsenal—Good option for Mikel Arteta?
Mikel Arteta has relied on a small group of players across all competitions this season, with a few key players playing almost every minute. One of those is Grant Xhaka, whose importance has grown significantly alongside Thomas Partey in the middle of the park.
Xhaka and Partey have formed a strong partnership at the base of Arsenal’s midfield, helping the Arteta-managed side to the top of the table. However, should either one of the duo get injured, Arteta doesn’t have the depth in his squad to cope with the loss. As games are set to come thick and fast post the World Cup, it is vital for the Gunners to reinforce their midfield unit.
In that regard, Danilo would be a good fit at the Emirates Stadium. He has done well at Palmeiras while anchoring the midfield, averaging 2.1 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 1 clearance, 2.6 long balls and 0.8 key passes per 90 minutes in Brasileirao. The youngster has been tidy when distributing the ball from the centre of the park after completing 83.6% of his attempted passes (stats courtesy: WhoScored).
A tough, energetic and hard-working midfielder, Danilo can get stuck in with some tenacious tackles and win back possession for his team. The Brazilian’s high stamina helps him to cover a lot of ground and keep going throughout the 90 minutes. At 21, though, he has a lot of rough edges to his game which Arteta could help in ironing out.
All in all, Danilo could be an excellent long-term investment for Arsenal. The north London giants must definitely revive their interest in the Palmeiras’ rising star in January.