Arsenal are ready to bolster their midfield options this summer, and they are now in contact over a deal to sign another Brazil star alongside Bruno Guimaraes.
The Gunners have made the Newcastle United captain their top target for the window, and the 28-year-old has informed the Magpies that he wishes to leave the club in order to make the switch to north London, with a £60m bid being prepared.
But now it has emerged that he isn't the only Brazilian that Mikel Arteta is looking at to bolster his options in the centre of the pitch, with talks underway for one of his international teammates.
Arsenal Hold Talks to Sign Danilo Santos
Danilo SantosREUTERS/Marco Bello
According to O Dia, via Sport Witness, Arsenal are one of the clubs who have been in talks over a deal to sign Botafogo star Danilo Santos.
Santos, who was previously at Nottingham Forest, has enjoyed a successful spell back in his homeland and was part of Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the World Cup this summer. He managed just 44 minutes over the five games, making four substitute appearances, but couldn't stop them being eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16.
Botafogo had been hoping that he would continue his good form in the tournament in order to raise his asking price, but a lack of game time put a stop to that.
Arsenal are understood to have been in talks with the player's camp for several months, and have been keeping a close eye on his situation.
Botafogo are currently valuing Danilo at around £30m, and now are waiting to find out if interested clubs are going to make their attempts to sign the midfielder concrete or not following the World Cup.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Arsenal Don't Need Danilo
Mikel Arteta waving to the Arsenal crowd
Arsenal showed last season that their squad is among the strongest in world football, and they were on the brink of a historic league and Champions League double.
Should they sign Guimaraes, he will join up with Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, and Christian Norgaard as senior options for central midfield. Norgaard may well leave, but Danilo doesn't need to come in, because Myles Lewis-Skelly showed he is more than capable of making that position his own too.
Arsenal don't need to do lots of work on their squad, and they shouldn't spend money or add players for the sake of it. Danilo doesn't improve them, so this feels like a deal to avoid at this stage.
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates vs Crystal Palace Related
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