Newcastle Leaps to Front of Danilo Race as Bruno Guimaraes Exit Looms

Newcastle United might be losing Bruno Guimaraes this summer. And if they do, they already have a replacement lined up: Botafogo midfielder Danilo. According to Brazilian outlet Fogao Net, the Magpies are currently the ‘strongest’ suitors for the 25-year-old, who has been on a tear since leaving Nottingham Forest last year.

Danilo’s return to Brazil looked like a step back at the time. He broke his ankle at Forest, and Botafogo paid a club-record $24 million to bring him home. But the move has been a career revival. In 12 league appearances this season, he’s got seven goals and two assists. That form earned him a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad, and now Premier League teams are circling again.

Who else wants Danilo?

Chelsea jumped into the race recently. Arsenal is also keeping tabs, though their primary target remains Guimaraes himself. Manchester United was interested back in May but has since signed Andrey Santos and is close to landing Youri Tielemans. That leaves Newcastle in a favorable spot — especially after Danilo turned down a move to Zenit St. Petersburg earlier this month.

But it’s not just an English competition. Galatasaray is lurking, and they’ve got the kind of Champions League exposure that could tempt a player. Still, the word out of Brazil is that Danilo prefers a return to the Premier League.

Botafogo’s manager has already admitted it will be ‘very difficult’ to keep him. Danilo’s contract runs until 2029, so Botafogo holds a strong negotiating hand. They’ll want a significant fee for a guy who’s become their most important player.

For Newcastle, this is pure contingency planning. Guimaraes has been linked with Arsenal all window, and there’s a sense he wants the move. The Magpies need to be ready. Danilo is younger, cheaper, and already familiar with English football from his time at Forest. It makes sense on paper.

The question is whether Newcastle can close the deal before someone else swoops in. The transfer window still has weeks left, and things change fast. But right now, they’re the ones in pole position.