Fresh reports of January spending plans
Having spent a significant amount of money to strengthen their ranks during the summer, Arsenal have made a surprisingly strong start to the Premier League season. Of the 14 matches played so far, Mikel Arteta only failed to win two, losing away to Manchester United and drawing 1-1 away to Southampton. Among the 12 triumphs are huge victories at home over Liverpool and away to Chelsea. With 37 points on the board, the Gunners top the table with a five-point advantage over title defenders Manchester City.
Before the campaign started, a top-four finish would’ve been considered a success, but the expectations have understandably grown since, and according to a number of recent reports, the club are prepared to spend again in January to provide the manager with a deep squad and give him the best possible chance of leading his men to the title.
The reports all point in the same direction – a central midfielder and a winger, the two positions Arsenal tried but failed to strengthen during the summer. A relatively new story, coming from the Express, speaks in favour of these rumours, and names Danilo of Palmeiras as one of the potential targets.
Danilo is a 21-year-old specialist defensive midfielder, which is a role Arteta tried to stack up for by going for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz. Thomas Partey is, of course, a fantastic player, but he needs better and younger cover than Mohamed Elneny, given the injury records of both.
With 34 matches in the Brazilian Serie A in 2022, Danilo believes he is ready to compete in any league in the world.
Apparently, Arsenal inquired about the possibility of signing him this summer, but Palmeiras refused to discuss a sale being involved in a title race themselves. There is belief that in January, a bid of just over £20 million could be enough to tempt the Brazilian club.
