Danilo has been left out of the Feyenoord squad for their latest pre-season friendly clash as Rangers reportedly close in on the Eredivisie striker.
Following Rangers’ 3-1 defeat to Olympiakos on Wednesday night, manager Mick Beale played down suggestions that a deal for the former Ajax striker was, as they say, imminent.
“I’d say you just need to be patient until after the weekend, and not listen to the size of the fee or the size of the salary,” Beale tells the Daily Record, while also taking aim at suggestions that Rangers will pay Feyenoord £6 million while offering Danilo an eye-watering £45,000-a-week.
“I can tell you it’s nowhere near the size of both (figures).
“But if you stay patient, then I’m hoping there’ll be some good news at the start of next week for everybody.”
Sky Sports believe that Rangers will pay an initial fee of £5.2 million; the deal only rising to £6 million once bonuses and add-ons are met. Personal terms, the report adds, will not be an issue, even if Danilo may not earn as much as £45,000-a-week at the Glasgow giants.
Rangers close in on Danilo
The 2022/23 Eredivisie winner was conspicuous by his absence, meanwhile, as Feyenoord revealed their 24-man squad to take on Villarreal in a pre-season friendly clash on Thursday afternoon.
According to Rotterdam-based publication 1908, Danilo has already said farewell to his Feyenoord team-mates. He is no longer training at the club’s base, while Arne Slot’s league champions have already identified a replacement in the shape of Ayase Ueda.
Beale may be playing down suggestions that Danilo will be a Rangers player within the next 24 hours. But within the next week? That is perhaps a different story indeed.
“Danilo has mastered (controlling the ball). He has soft feet,” former Ajax and Rangers star Ronald De Boer told FOX a couple of years ago. “He is really a Brazilian. A virtuoso. He can turn away (from defenders) very quickly and shoot with his left or right.
“He has speed, vision and not only thinks about goals. (Danilo) has an eye for his fellow players. He has the potential to become a very good striker.”
Danilo scored 14 goals in all competitions last term. His vital contributions helped Feyenoord win only their second Eredivisie title in the 21st century.
