Palmeiras look set to turn down Nottingham Forest’s opening bid for Danilo with reporter Jorge Nicola explaining via his YouTube channel that the Premier League outfit will have to change the terms of their offer.
On Tuesday night, Brazilian publication Lance indicated that Danilo’s mid-season switch to the City Ground was only a matter of time. A switch that would see him reunite with Gustavo Scarpa, having tasted Copa Libertadores glory alongside the former Allianz Parque talisman before he re-located to England’s East Midlands.
But while the smart money may still be on Danilo joining Scarpa in Garibaldi Red before February’s deadline, there remains a clear difference of opinion between Nottingham Forest and the 21-year-old’s current employers.
“The move to Nottingham Forest is not that close to being realised,” Nicola explains. “Because Forest made an unusual proposal.
“The idea is to spend a maximum of £16.5 million, but (to sign Danilo) initially on loan. If Danilo completes three matches, Forest would have the obligation to sign him.”
Nottingham Forest are in talks to sign Brazilian midfielder Danilo from Palmeiras
Given Danilo’s importance to Palmeiras, Nicola believes that the Brazilian giants are very unlikely to accept an offer that would see the 21-year-old depart on loan, without the firm guarantee of an eventual big-money sale.
“Do Nottingham Forest want to test Danilo out to see if he’s worth it? The big problem for Palmeiras is that it is not worth doing this kind of business. Palmeiras dismiss the chance (of agreeing to such an offer).
“If Nottingham Forest improves the offer or changes the terms, this could end up happening.”
Further complications may arrive from the fact that Palmeiras hope to earn around £22 million from Danilo’s departure. Far more than the £16.5 million Nottingham Forest are willing to offer at this stage.
Per Calciomercato, Wolves, West Ham, Aston Villa, Brighton and Bournemouth are all lurking in the background. The Premier League quintet may now be given the encouragement to make offers of their own. Arsenal’s long-running interest in Danilo, however, appears to have dried up of late.
‘I’m ready’
“I see myself as mature enough to play in any competition in the world. I’m ready,” says Danilo, who models his tough-tackling style on that of Chelsea ace N’Golo Kante.
“I told my agent to only talk to me if it’s the right thing. Then, we sit down and talk to Palmeiras and decide what’s best for everyone.”
Danilo has won six trophies in just three years in the Palmeiras first-team. He also took home the Bronze Ball at the 2021 Club World Cup, as Palmeiras lost out to Chelsea.
“He has to play in the Premier League,” says team-mate Dudu. “I always tell him; ‘You have to play for Manchester United, for Arsenal’.
“You have to be calm. He’s a boy who gives his life (for Palmeiras). But I say; ‘You’re a player for Chelsea, for those teams.’ I want him to stay with us. But that’s what I see (a future in the Premier League).”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
