Blues make contact for Brazilian

Danilo Santos to Chelsea: Chelsea join four-club Premier League scramble for Botafogo star

Danilo Santos to Chelsea: Brazilian outlet FogãoNET broke the story on Friday. By Saturday morning, it was everywhere. Every major transfer feed in England picked it up, quoting the original report relayed by Sport Witness. Chelsea have made an initial enquiry to Botafogo over the availability of 25-year-old midfielder Danilo Santos.

The left-footed number 8 has barely left the gossip columns since Brazil’s World Cup campaign ended earlier this month, and the timing makes perfect sense. The Blues have just sold Andrey Santos to Manchester United in a £50 million deal. The recruitment team at Stamford Bridge had to move fast. They needed to find someone to fill that exact void.

Danilo to West London looks logical on paper. Like Andrey, he is a Brazilian central midfielder. He is 25. Right now, he is starring for Botafogo, having completely rebuilt his career back home after an injury-plagued spell at Nottingham Forest. An ankle problem effectively wiped out most of his time at the City Ground. But he looks like a transformed figure since returning to Brazil.

He managed 10 goals and three assists across 24 appearances in all competitions during the 2025/26 Brazilian Série A season, averaging a brilliant 7.47 FotMob rating. Numbers like that forced Carlo Ancelotti to put him in the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup. Even though Norway knocked the Seleção out in the round of 16, and his tournament minutes were limited, his stock remains high.

Newcastle and Manchester United present stiff competition

Chelsea are not alone in this race. Far from it, and that is a major complication the Stamford Bridge board must take seriously. Newcastle United are the front-runners at this stage. Why? Because Bruno Guimarães looks increasingly likely to leave St James’ Park for Arsenal. Manchester United have also made direct contact with Botafogo in recent weeks. Arsenal took a different route, approaching the player’s representatives instead. Four massive Premier League clubs making concrete moves for one player tells you everything about his current reputation.

Botafogo want around €40 million (approximately £34 million). Palmeiras already tried their luck with a €25 million bid and got knocked back immediately. Chelsea finished tenth last season and cannot offer European football, but that lack of distraction might actually work in their favour.

There is less wage competition and more scope to promise guaranteed minutes. Xabi Alonso’s squad already has five new arrivals this summer, including Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP and Marco Palestra from Atalanta. The midfield hierarchy needs careful thought before a formal bid lands on Botafogo’s desk.

Read: Exit Close – Chelsea ready to sell £40m star just one year after signing.

His first spell in England did not go to plan. That is the reality. Injuries ruined it. But you do not score seven goals in the Brazilian Série A alone by July and earn a World Cup call-up if you are still carrying mental or physical baggage from a tough time at Forest. The enquiry from Chelsea is real. The big question now is whether a £34 million offer follows before Newcastle or United pull the trigger.