Botafogo have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Rangers striker Danilo, with the Brazilian now closing in on a return to his homeland after a difficult spell at Ibrox.
Interest from the Brazilian club has been well documented in recent days but reports in Brazil now claim the deal is effectively done, with Danilo set to join Botafogo on a season-long loan that includes an option to buy with the fee based off of how many appearances he makes during his temporary spell.
The move comes after Rangers left the 27-year-old out of Derek McInnes' travelling squad for the club's pre-season training camp in Spain.
Defender John Souttar was also omitted as both players continue to attract transfer interest from the likes of Leicester City and Cardiff City.
Danilo fails to live up to Ibrox expectations
Danilo arrived at Rangers from Feyenoord for a reported £6million in the summer of 2023 with high expectations but has struggled to establish himself in Glasgow.
A series of injury setbacks severely disrupted his progress, limiting his opportunities to build momentum and ultimately preventing him from becoming a regular starter.
Failed return to the Netherlands
In January, Rangers sanctioned a loan move to NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie in the hope that regular football would help revive his career.
He netted a late goal against his former club Feyenoord to secure NEC a record points haul in the Eredivise,
However, the spell proved underwhelming, with the Brazilian scoring just that once before returning to Ibrox at the end of the season.
With McInnes reshaping his squad ahead of the new campaign, Danilo now appears surplus to requirements, and a return to Brazil could offer the striker the fresh start he has been seeking.
Rangers have signed Lawrence Shankland up front alongside Youssef Chermiti, Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski, with Danilo dropping to fifth choice.
The Gers have also been linked with strikers such as Sheffield United’s Ryan One and Stockport County’s Adama Sidibeh this window.
If completed, the move would initially see Danilo spend the 2026-27 season with Botafogo before the Brazilian club decide whether to trigger the agreed purchase option and make the transfer permanent.
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