Arsenal made a formal bid for Palmeiras midfielder Danilo late in the summer transfer window and could return in January, according to a report.

BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 28: Danilo dos Santos of Palmeiras controls the ball during a semi final second leg match between Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2021 at Mineirao Stadium on September 28, 2021 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Douglas Magno - Pool/Getty Images)
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL: Danilo dos Santos of Palmeiras controls the ball during a semi-final second leg match between Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2021 at Mineirao Stadium on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Douglas Magno – Pool/Getty Images)

Jorge Nicola (via Sport Witness) claims Arsenal tried to sign Danilo from Palmeiras in the summer window.

As well as the widely-reported attempts to sign Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa, Nicola reports that a source has informed him Palmeiras received an official bid of €25m (£21.8m) for Danilo on transfer deadline day, which was rejected.

At the time, Palmeiras president Leila Pereira was clear that they wouldn’t sell the player under any circumstances. But in 2023, the club are more open to letting Danilo go, raising the possibility of Arsenal returning for him in January.

As for the fee Arsenal might have to pay, Nicola claims Danilo is now valued at €30m (£26.1m). But Fabrizio Romano suggests Palmeiras wanted more than €35m in the summer, so perhaps that could be the case again in January.

Romano confirmed that Danilo was one of the players Arsenal tracked in the summer window, though he adds it was never close to going through.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, applauds their fans after the final whistle of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on August 05, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, applauds their fans after the final whistle of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on August 05, 2022. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The Evening Standard reported in early September that Arsenal had lodged an enquiry with Palmeiras over a possible deal for Danilo, but the Brazilian club immediately knocked that approach back.

Palmeiras wanted to keep Danilo around for the rest of their Copa Libertadores campaign, though they have since been eliminated at the semi-final stage.

Multiple sources have now suggested Danilo remains a target ahead of the January window, with the Gunners expected to spend on a midfielder at that stage.