Newcastle United may have had the inside track for Danilo Santos earlier this summer, but that opportunity now looks to be slipping away.
For weeks, the Botafogo midfielder was repeatedly linked with a move to St James’ Park. He was seen as a possible replacement if Bruno Guimarães joined Arsenal. And Danilo himself never hid his desire to return to one of Europe’s biggest leagues.
Now, though, another club is making the moves Newcastle United have yet to make.
Atalanta step into Newcastle United void
According to Brazil’s O Globo, Atalanta have advanced talks with Danilo Santos’ representatives. They are expected to submit an official offer to Botafogo within the next couple of days.
The negotiations are still at an early stage, but they have clearly moved beyond simple interest.
Botafogo are expected to open talks once the bid arrives, in the next 24h-48h. While the Brazilian club would ideally like somewhere between €30m (£26m) and €40m (£34.5m), the report suggests Atalanta’s opening offer would be closer to €25m (£21.5m).
Move still fits Danilo’s transfer plan
The Italian side also tick many of the boxes Danilo has been looking for.
Throughout this transfer saga, the midfielder has made it clear his priority is returning to one of Europe’s top leagues. The Premier League is still his promised land, but Italy is not far behind in his view.
| League 2025/26 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 14 | |||
| Started | 13 | |||
| Minutes per game | 83 | |||
| Total minutes played | 1164 | |||
| Goals | 7 | |||
| Assists | 2 | |||
Atalanta excellent at identifying talent
According to O Globo, that is one reason Atalanta’s project appeals to both the player and those around him. The Serie A club have built a reputation for developing talent. Later, they send players on to some of Europe’s biggest sides.
That could make Bergamo an attractive alternative if a Premier League move doesn’t arrive. But for Newcastle United, there is an obvious question.
The Magpies spent much of the summer being linked with Danilo Santos, but while they hesitated, other clubs started turning interest into negotiations. Atalanta now have a chance to take advantage of that.
Atalanta are excellent at talent identification, which is some Newcastle United should consider regarding Danilo.
