‘NOT AGAIN’: Arsenal about to loose another top transfer target to another London rival, expert claims
South American football expert Tim Vickery believes Palmeiras are desperate to sell Danilo in January. Nottingham Forest are currently in talks over the transfer of the Arsenal target.
Vickery has been speaking on Sky Sports News (12/01, 12:21) and lauded the midfielder as a ‘very, very dynamic’ gem. But he notes that expectations were that the 21-year-old would join a club more in line with the Gunners. He also does not rule out Mikel Arteta swooping.
The City Ground is a more realistic destination for the Brazil talent this month, though. The Reds are pushing to agree to terms with Palmeiras to coax Danilo to England. Steve Cooper wants the anchor in his engine room to improve their chances of now avoiding relegation.
The Daily Mail also notes that Nottingham Forest are close to an agreement with Palmeiras for Danilo’s transfer. They are prepared to spend £18m plus add-ons for the Salvador-born talent, who AS Monaco had made a late play for. It is likely to be enough for Danilo to join.
Reports by 90min also note that Danilo has already spoken with Gustavo Scarpa to discuss his transfer to Nottingham Forest. The Reds raided Palmeiras to snap up Scarpa on January 1 in a free deal at the end of his contract. But Cooper faced a host of rival interest in Danilo.
VICKERY BELIEVES PALMEIRAS ARE DESPERATE TO SELL ARSENAL TRANSFER TARGET DANILO
As many as nine Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, have held an interest in Danilo’s transfer from Palmeiras. Calciomercato.it has also listed Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Newcastle, Wolves and West Ham.
But despite the kettle of vultures circling for Danilo’s transfer, Vickery believes Palmeiras are desperate to sell the Arsenal and Nottingham Forest target in January. Otherwise, he claims the Brazilian outfit fear they will never get the same sort of money for his services. He said:
“He was called up by Brazil in June for a tour they did of Japan and South Korea. I think that was the moment that he stepped up the level and, ‘wow, this is a bit more difficult than I thought’. He didn’t get on the field and he hasn’t quite been the same player since.
“There’s a fear at Palmeiras [that] if they don’t sell him now, his value is going to plummet. Palmeiras has been burned a couple of times recently with potential wonderkids they had offers for. They didn’t sell and a year later, the player is not worth nearly as much.
And there’s a real feeling that if they don’t cash in on Danilo now, that his value might fall… It is fascinating that if they don’t sell him now, they think they won’t get anything like as much for him in future transfer windows.”
