The 25-year-old central midfielder has been in outstanding form in 2026, scoring ten goals and contributing three assists in 23 appearances across all competitions for Botafogo. That return, combined with his first international call-ups under Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, has prompted his club to revise their asking price upward.
Fulham had previously indicated willingness to pay around €30 million (£26m) for Danilo, structured as €22 million (£19m) guaranteed with a further €8 million (£7m) in add-ons. Zenit Saint Petersburg were working to a similar package.
According to Globo Esporte, that figure is no longer sufficient. Botafogo are now targeting a sale in the range of €35 million to €40 million (£30m-£34m), with the club banking on the World Cup to push that valuation higher.
Danilo made his international debut in Brazil's friendly against France in March before scoring in a 3-1 win over Croatia. He is widely expected to be included in Ancelotti's final tournament squad for the World Cup in North America this summer, and Botafogo are content to wait for the right moment and the right price.
It is not a straightforward situation for the club. Botafogo are under genuine financial pressure and view Danilo's sale as a key mechanism for balancing their books. They also have outstanding obligations linked to the payments surrounding his arrival from Nottingham Forest last summer.
The midfielder himself has made clear that a return to England is his preference. He joined Forest from Palmeiras in January 2023 for around £16 million and had established himself in the Premier League before suffering a serious leg injury on the opening day of the 2024/25 season. The move to Botafogo was designed to rebuild his form and his international profile — and it has worked.
For Fulham, the gap between their current offer and Botafogo's new expectations is a problem. The Cottagers are not alone in being priced out at €30 million, but moving to €40 million represents a different level of commitment. With Atletico Madrid and Newcastle among the clubs monitoring the situation, competition for his signature is likely to intensify after the World Cup.
The window for Fulham to move at the lower figure may be closing.