Midfielder Danilo of Palmeiras isn’t currently a target for Arsenal, despite heavy links to the Gunners in recent months.

Palmeiras' Danilo celebrates after defeating Atletico Mineiro at the end of their Copa Libertadores football tournament quarterfinals all-Brazilian first leg match at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on August 3, 2022. (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP) (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images)
Palmeiras’ Danilo celebrates after defeating Atletico Mineiro at the end of their Copa Libertadores football tournament quarterfinals all-Brazilian first leg match at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on August 3, 2022. (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images)

David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Danilo of Palmeiras is not thought to be a target for Arsenal as it stands.

The Gunners have been pretty heavily linked with Danilo in recent months.

In part, this was thanks to constant media speculation and rumours, but it was also driven by quotes from the player himself – about befriending Arsenal players and believing he’s ready for a transfer.

“[My Brazil call-up] was very good,” Danilo said in November. “I made friends and learned a lot. I got closer to Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Dani Alves.

“I see myself mature enough to be able to play in any competition in the world, I’m ready. Because Palmeiras helped me a lot, from the base, with [director] João Paulo [Sampaio]. And I kept my mentality strong with the arrival of Abel.

“But I prefer not to get involved with these transfer issues. I told my manager to only talk to me if it’s the right thing. Then we sit down and talk to Palmeiras and decide what’s best for everyone.”

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 02: Thiago Galhardo of Fortaleza and Danilo of Palmeiras fight for the ball during a match between Palmeiras and Fortaleza as part of Brasileirao Series A 2022 at Allianz Parque on November 02, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Thiago Galhardo of Fortaleza and Danilo of Palmeiras fight for the ball during a match between Palmeiras and Fortaleza as part of Brasileirao Series A 2022 at Allianz Parque on November 02, 2022. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)

Last month, Fabrizio Romano reported that Danilo has been on Arsenal’s shortlist since July, they appreciate him as a player and have a good relationship with his representatives.

But even at that point, Romano claimed there was no movement in the negotiation either on Palmeiras’ side, or on the player’s side.

Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola reported recently that Palmeiras would negotiate with Arsenal if the Gunners repeated the same offer they made in the summer.

Arsenal reportedly offered €25m at the end of the summer window, which was turned down at the time. But that same amount could be enough to convince Palmeiras in January.

This fits with other reports, with ESPN Brasil even reporting that Palmeiras are open to negotiating if they receive an offer of €20m, let alone €25m.

Perhaps Arsenal’s situation has changed since then, however. Signing a midfielder is no longer such an emergency, with players returning to fitness, and Danilo’s form has seemingly dipped.

If Ornstein is to be believed (and he usually is), Arsenal will be looking elsewhere for a midfield signing in January.

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