Man United Faces Setback as £34m Midfielder Prefers Move to Newcastle
Manchester United have encountered a setback in their pursuit of Danilo, the midfielder valued at £34 million, who seems to favour joining Newcastle United this summer.
The Red Devils have strengthened their midfield by adding Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans but still need a direct replacement for Casemiro, who left after his contract ended in June.
Earlier, Atalanta’s Ederson was close to signing during the World Cup period, but the move collapsed, reportedly due to a medical concern. Ederson has now extended his contract with Atalanta, forcing United to explore other midfield targets.
Among those linked are Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Danilo — the latter having previous Premier League experience with Nottingham Forest.
Danilo Leaning Towards Newcastle
Reports suggest that although Manchester United opened discussions with Danilo's representatives earlier this month, his camp views a transfer to Newcastle United more favourably. The Magpies' current midfield overhaul offers him more assured playing time at St James' Park.
Newcastle recently sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £92.5 million. Arsenal remains interested in Bruno Guimaraes and could bid around £70 million soon. Joelinton is also linked with moves to Saudi clubs.
The Magpies have approached Botafogo about Danilo, whose contract runs until 2029. Other interested clubs included Palmeiras and Zenit St Petersburg, but Botafogo does not want to strengthen direct rivals, and Danilo is not inclined to move to Russia.
The 25-year-old played 50 Premier League matches for Nottingham Forest, scoring five goals, and this season has impressed with seven goals and two assists in 13 games in Brazil’s top flight.
Does Man United Still Need a Midfielder?
Despite having seven players capable of deeper midfield roles, including Santos, Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Dan Gore, and Tyler Fletcher, there is a sense that Manchester United's midfield is not fully settled.
Manuel Ugarte is sidelined long-term with a knee injury, while some squad members lack top-level experience. For instance, Dan Gore, Tyler Fletcher, and Will Collyer have limited exposure; Collyer, the oldest at 22, played just 17 games last season between West Bromwich Albion and Hull City.
Collyer typically operates as a number six, but when facing top opponents, Michael Carrick might prefer not to rely solely on the current double pivot of Santos, Tielemans, and Mainoo. A new defensive midfielder who excels at disrupting play could be very useful.
