Arsenal submit €25m transfer offer for Palmeiras’ Danilo

Arsenal appear to be ramping up their January transfer business this window with Mikel Arteta making no secret of his side’s desire to bolster their depleted midfield ranks.

Heading into their FA Cup third round tie with just one senior midfielder available for selection, the manager confessed his side is ‘very short’ on numbers.

Allowing Ainsley Maitland-Niles to join Roma on a six-month loan deal, one that is expected to be turned into a permanent move in the summer despite there being no clause in the agreement, came a surprise considering the lack of options.

With Mohamed Elneny away on AFCON duty and set to leave the club at the end of the season, work is underway to add bodies in midfield with an offer being submitted for Palmeiras’ Danilo.

Arsenal submit €25m transfer offer for Palmeiras’s Brazilian midfielder Danilo as Arteta eyes reinforcements in January window

As per Brazilian outlet R7, Arsenal have lodged a bid of €25m (with add-ons) as Arteta and co aim to act quick this window and wrap up a new midfield addition.

Palmeiras’ preference is to keep hold of the 20-year-old this window with their participation in the Club World Cup coming up in February, but an offer of this size for a young player might be too good to refuse. It’s said in the report that if Danilo requests to leave that it could change the owners’ mind.

Immediate thoughts on the player is that his profile indicates a long-term replacement for Granit Xhaka. Arsenal only have one left-footed midfielder on their books – discounting Charlie Patino – and finding balance in that area is a key part of Arteta’s squad building

Danilo is a deep-lying midfielder who likes to get on the ball and progress with his passing, but also boasts neat technical quality and can dribble through a press. Issues on concentration levels have emerged but as an exciting young box-to-box option he has plenty of room for improvement.

Quick across the turf and efficient in covering spaces, early analysis shows there is plenty to like.

R7 are the only publication running this story at the moment so caution is needed on how legitimate the claims are. However, given Edu’s connections in Brazil, as well as factoring Danilo’s profile and age, this is a move that certainly has legs. It falls in line with the strategy.

One to watch out for.