Chelsea's midfield plan: Danilo from Botafogo

Chelsea's midfield planning is taking shape with a move stretching to Brazil. According to the report, the London club have opened talks to sign Botafogo's Brazilian midfielder Danilo in order to fill the void left by Andrey Santos, who was sold to Manchester United. Botafogo's valuation of the player stands at around €40 million (approximately £34 million).

The timing of the move is no coincidence. Andrey Santos signed his Manchester United contract in a £50 million deal that also includes a 10 percent sell-on clause for Chelsea, and the London club are considering filling the resulting midfield gap with a compatriot.

The race, however, is a crowded one. According to the Brazilian press, Newcastle United are currently at the front; Danilo is viewed as a successor candidate in case captain Bruno Guimarães departs for Arsenal. Manchester United, searching for Casemiro's replacement, are reported to have made club-to-club contact with Botafogo, with Arsenal also tracking the file; Galatasaray had also been reported to have contacted the Brazilian club for the player.

For the 25-year-old left-footed defensive midfielder, this transfer would mean a return to England. Returning to Botafogo in the summer of 2025 after an injury-hit 18-month Premier League spell at Nottingham Forest (62 appearances), Danilo rebuilt his career and earned a place in Brazil's World Cup squad. However, his limited minutes at the tournament — a total of 43 minutes across four substitute appearances — are complicating Botafogo's price expectations; a €25 million bid from Palmeiras was deemed insufficient. The stance of the Brazilian club, which needs a major sale for financial reasons, and the competition between English clubs will determine the course of the transfer.

Source: CaughtOffside
Image: BBC Sport