Speaking on the Handbrake Off Podcast, The Athletic journalist James McNicholas has shared what he knows about Danilo amid reported interest from Arsenal.
It was claimed by Brazilian outlet Esportes over the weekend that Arsenal had bid £21m for the 20-year-old midfielder, but McNicholas is led to believe that those reports are rather premature.
Indeed, the journalist claims that Arsenal are indeed aware of the 20-year-old via their South American scouts, but he says that these reports of a bid are wide of the mark.
What’s been said about Danilo?
McNicholas shared what he knows about the Gunners and the midfielder.
“That was a story that came out in the Brazilian press that Arsenal were pursuing the €20m left-footed central midfielder. He’s 20 years old, a very young guy. I know that Arsenal are aware of him and they do have South American scouts. They were retained from the old regime, the only ones who survived the cull there,” McNicholas said.
“But any reports of a bid are premature. I don’t think Arsenal are at that stage with him and he’s probably not at that stage of his development to come in and make a difference right away in the Premier League, so I wouldn’t get too invested or excited about that one in the immediate-term.”
Not the answer
As exciting as signing a 20-year-old Brazilian is, we have to agree that Danilo probably isn’t what Arsenal need this month.
The Gunners need a player who can come in and make an immediate impact, and it’s hard to say that a 20-year-old who has never played a game in European football would be able to do that.
Would Danilo be a good long-term signing? Potentially. After all, the Gunners’ scouts wouldn’t recommend a player who didn’t show glimpses of brilliance, but is he the right man for them right now? Probably not.
Arsenal need a proven midfielder through the door, and sadly, Danilo isn’t that man.
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