Danilo Prefers Newcastle Over Man United in £34m Transfer Deal

Manchester United have encountered a challenge in their bid to sign Danilo, the £34 million midfielder, who appears to lean towards joining Newcastle United this summer. Despite adding Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to bolster their midfield, the Red Devils remain short of a clear replacement for Casemiro after his contract expired in June.

Earlier attempts to bring in Atalanta’s Ederson fell through amid medical concerns, and with the player now renewing his contract in Serie A, United’s search turned to other targets including Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Danilo—who once featured for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Danilo's Preference Shifts Toward Newcastle

Reports indicate that while Manchester United has initiated talks for Danilo, his representatives view a move to Newcastle United more favorably. The Magpies are undergoing a midfield overhaul after selling Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £92.5 million and facing potential bids from Arsenal for Bruno Guimarães. Joelinton may also leave, reportedly attracting interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.

Newcastle has already reached out to Danilo’s current club, Botafogo, where he is contracted until 2029. Palmeiras and Zenit St Petersburg showed interest, but Botafogo refuses to empower direct competitors, and Danilo is not inclined toward Russia.

At 25, Danilo boasts 50 Premier League appearances with Nottingham Forest, scoring five goals, and this season has impressed with seven goals and two assists in 13 matches in Brazil’s top flight.

Is Manchester United's Midfield Still Lacking?

Michael Carrick has several midfield options, including Santos, Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Dan Gore, and Tyler Fletcher, all capable of playing deeper roles. Yet, with Manuel Ugarte sidelined by injury, and some younger players lacking experience, questions remain about depth and balance.

Players like Gore, Fletcher, and Collyer (with limited top-level minutes last season) might not yet be ready to shoulder the responsibility against stronger opposition. A new defensive midfielder skilled at disrupting play would strengthen United’s setup, particularly when Carrick opts not to field Santos, Tielemans, or Mainoo together.