John Textor won't give up! Lyon miss out on signing Nottingham Forest star amid financial woes but American investor launches plot to bring him to Botafogo

According to FogaoNet, Lyon have dropped out of the race to sign Forest midfielder Danilo after intervention from the DNCG, France's financial watchdog. The Ligue 1 club, under financial restrictions, was forced to pause transfer activity despite initial interest in the 24-year-old. With Lyon sidelined, club owner Textor has shifted focus to Botafogo, another team under his ownership, and has initiated direct contact with Forest over a possible deal.

Danilo had emerged as a top target for Lyon to reinforce their midfield this summer. However, the DNCG's financial restrictions, despite Lyon’s successful appeal to stay in Ligue 1, have disrupted their transfer plans. Textor, determined to keep the player within his football portfolio, is now looking to reroute the transfer to Botafogo, with an estimated fee of €25 million (£21.1m/$27.2m) under discussion with Forest.

Danilo joined Nottingham Forest in January 2023 from Palmeiras and has made over 62 appearances for the club with six goals and four assists. Despite adapting well to English football, Forest are reportedly open to offers in the current window as they look to balance their squad and finances.

Botafogo are expected to continue negotiations with Forest in the coming days. The Brazilian club is pushing to complete the transfer swiftly, pending agreement on payment terms and player conditions. Lyon, meanwhile, must await DNCG clearance before making any further transfer moves.