Man United Faces Setback as £34m Midfielder Prefers Move to Newcastle

Danilo Chooses Newcastle Over Manchester United

Manchester United has encountered a setback in their pursuit of Danilo, the midfielder valued at £34 million. The player reportedly favors joining Newcastle United this summer instead.

The Red Devils have strengthened their midfield with signings like Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans but still lack a direct replacement for Casemiro, who left after his contract ended in June. A move for Atalanta's Ederson fell through during the World Cup period due to a medical concern, and he has since renewed his contract with the Serie A club.

Alternative Midfield Targets

Following the collapse of the Ederson deal, Manchester United shifted focus to other candidates such as Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Danilo—who previously played for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Why Danilo Is Leaning Toward Newcastle

Reports from UoL indicate that Danilo’s representatives view Newcastle United as a more appealing option. The Magpies are undergoing a midfield reshuffle, which could guarantee him significant playing time. Newcastle recently sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £92.5 million, while Arsenal remains interested in Bruno Guimaraes and may offer £70 million soon. Additionally, Joelinton is attracting interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.

Newcastle has already contacted Botafogo about a potential summer transfer for Danilo, whose contract extends until 2029. Palmeiras and Zenit St Petersburg showed interest but Botafogo prefers not to strengthen direct rivals, and Danilo is not keen on a move to Russia.

Player Profile and Recent Form

At 25, Danilo has featured in 50 Premier League matches with Nottingham Forest, scoring five goals. This season, he's delivered an impressive seven goals and two assists in just 13 Brasileiro games.

Does Manchester United Still Need Another Midfielder?

Despite having multiple players capable of a defensive midfield role, including Santos, Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Dan Gore, and Tyler Fletcher, doubts linger over the squad’s depth. Manuel Ugarte remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury. While some players like Gore and Fletcher lack top-tier experience, the team might benefit from a holding midfielder who can disrupt play, especially in high-stakes matches when manager Michael Carrick wants to avoid using a duo from the current options.