Danilo, who was part of Brazil's World Cup squad, is viewed as an appealing addition given his versatility to play as either a six or an eight, qualities that make him a natural fit if Newcastle need to replace a departing midfielder.
The blow of losing Sandro Tonali to Tottenham was softened by the arrival of highly-rated teenager Sean Steur, but with Bruno Guimaraes continuing to be strongly linked with a move to Arsenal, and Joe Willock attracting interest from elsewhere in the Premier League, the Magpies remain keen to bring in further reinforcements to protect themselves against further departures.
Newcastle United had also been chasing Freiburg's Johan Manzambi, only for the move to be hijacked by Aston Villa, and they retain an interest in Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall as they continue to explore multiple options.
Danilo, valued at around £25m, has emerged as a leading contingency plan, with his renaissance since leaving Nottingham Forest for Botafogo last summer considered particularly noteworthy given how disrupted his time in England had been by injury, reports ChronicleLive.
The 25-year-old made 62 appearances for Forest before his move to Brazil, but a serious ankle injury limited his impact during his time at the City Ground. Since returning home, he has established himself as one of Botafogo's key performers, attracting interest from a host of European clubs beyond Newcastle, including Chelsea, Roma, Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg, with Botafogo demanding a fee in the region of €30m to €40m for a player who is regarded as an important asset both on and off the pitch at the Rio de Janeiro club.
Newcastle's sporting director, Ross Wilson, previously held the same role at Nottingham Forest, giving the club a potential advantage in negotiations given his familiarity with the player from that earlier spell in England. Danilo's representatives are also said to be simultaneously positioning him as an option for other Premier League clubs, adding further competition to any move.
Should Guimaraes depart for Arsenal, where the Gunners are understood to have already had opening offers rejected by Newcastle, Danilo is seen internally as a ready-made successor capable of stepping into the Brazilian's role in Eddie Howe's midfield with minimal disruption.