Arsenal make fresh transfer approach for Brazilian midfielder

Arsenal are finding stability in their personnel and system that has seen marked improvements in how they control matches this season.

The shift towards a more visible 4-3-3 in possession sees Granit Xhaka operate more advanced in a No. 8 style role, one he is unfamiliar with but has been impressing in over the past few months.

While this alteration is with an eye on short-term success, it also has long-term ramifications as the players Mikel Arteta opts to sign in the summer will arrive with specific roles in mind, notably in that left-sided No. 8/6 hybrid position.

Efforts were made to bring in reinforcements during the winter transfer window, to no avail. The plan was to sign players originally intended for the summer, and if those targets weren’t attainable then the Gunners wouldn’t rush into the purchase of someone not on their preferred list.

https://twitter.com/Palmeiras/status/1494341116409393159

Arsenal make fresh transfer approach for Brazilian midfielder Danilo as Palmeiras hold out for €15m summer move

One of the players mooted during that time was Palmeiras’ Danilo, who some reports linked with being subject of a €25m bid from Arsenal.

Those obviously proved to be wide of the mark, and as is so often the case in these circumstances, came across as agent talk with an eye on angling for a bigger contract from the parent club. And, unsurprisingly, that proved to be the true as the 20-year-old penned a new improved deal with Palmeiras running until 2026.

Interestingly, the rumours haven’t subsidised.

Brazilian outlet Bolavip say that interest in his signature is only growing, with his representatives having been in contact with clubs from England, Italy and France. Arsenal have made a fresh inquiry of their own.

What’s peculiar about this report – nothing is ever airtight – is that this time around is that the Série A side will demand a fee of €15m, which is some €10m less than Arsenal supposedly ‘offered’ before he penned new terms.

As for the player, his profile makes sense from the Gunners’ perspective. The squad building in accordance with Arteta’s desire for balance will require the addition of a left-footed midfielder, and Danilo is of the deep-lying ilk who likes to be involved in build-up, progress the play and has the capacity to travel with the ball and dribble through the press.

What Arsenal need to upgrade from Xhaka is someone who can pass as well as carry. Additional speed across the grass and a step up in technical quality are also desired skills, therefore these links do make sense even if this is all in theory and hasn’t been put in practice in the Premier League.

There are a lot of grey areas in the reporting both now and from back in January, so anything at this stage needs to be taken lightly. However, Edu’s connections will always see Arsenal linked to rising talents in South America, so some conversations, however brief, may well have been had.