Manchester United have moved on from Alex Scott and are now assessing Danilo as the search for a third midfielder continues. It is a genuine shortlist shift rather than a finished deal. Botafogo have received offers of about £25m from Palmeiras and Zenit St Petersburg, while they are looking to receive £30-34m for Danilo.

Alex Scott out, Danilo in view

United's pullback from Scott is clear enough. Bournemouth would value him at at least £70million, and that price has pushed United toward other options.

Danilo fits the kind of profile United are now weighing. He spent two and a half years at Nottingham Forest before joining Botafogo in July 2025, made 62 appearances there and has World Cup experience too, with four appearances all from the bench.

The club context is different from a team shopping for a rescue job. United finished third in the Premier League with 71 points, so this is about adding depth to a Champions League-level squad rather than rebuilding from scratch.

Why Danilo is being taken seriously

Danilo's case is built on more than availability. His most recent club outing drew a 7.3 rating, a better figure than his 6.45 rating across five World Cup appearances and 426 minutes.

He has also spoken about the setback that shaped that spell. Danilo told Mirror: "It was really tough at first, but with time it got easier. I started to understand things differently. I matured a lot. I became stronger and learned to think more positively every day. After that injury, I developed this mindset."

That helps explain why he is back in the conversation. The price is still the awkward part, though the range around him is now well defined: about £25m in offers from elsewhere, or Botafogo's £30-34m asking price.

United still have a decision to make, but the direction is obvious. Danilo is not a backup name thrown up by thin scouting; he is a former Premier League midfielder with Brazil experience, current club form and a market that is already active. The next move depends on whether United are willing to meet Botafogo's valuation.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →