'Still no offers' for Arsenal's next Gilberto Silva

Stuart Telford

19 Dec 2022 17:08 GMT
5 min read

Arsenal have scouted Palmeiras youngster Danilo as a potential midfield reinforcement, but the Brazilian club's president insists no transfer bids have been made yet…

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Arsenal have made an impressive start to the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, and were five points clear of champions Manchester City by the break in play for the winter World Cup in Qatar.

The Gunners boasts strength in depth in almost every position, but the base of midfield remains a concern, with Granit Xhaka's fluctuating form and Thomas Partey's injury record, and very little of their quality in reserve.

READ: Who is Danilo? The Palmeiras midfielder on Arsenal's radar

Danilo has been tagged as a viable addition, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder who is now rated at €34 million by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm, but Leila Pereira, Palmeiras president, insists no offer has been made as yet.

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'A very important player'

"He's a very important player for our squad," she told Brazilian sports newscast Globo Esporte. "[But] up to this moment we haven't received any requests from abroad.

"We're always attentive to queries and the wishes of the athlete. So far we haven't had any consultations, but if we do we'll analyse what's best for Palmeiras and the player."

READ: Is Endrick really worth €72m and no Erling Haaland?!

The Gunners were always likely to dip into the January transfer market as they looked to sustain their title push and win a first league title since 2004, but a knee injury to Gabriel Jesus ruling him out for three months has shifted their focus onto a replacement attacker.

Palmeiras have already done significant business this winter, agreeing to the €72m sale of Endrick to Real Madrid, the 16-year-old striker actually leaving in the summer of 2024 when he turns 18.

As well as Jesus, Danilo would have plenty of Brazilians for company if he did make the move to the Emirates, with Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos also on Arsenal's books.