Chelsea are eyeing a summer swoop for Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, who is also on the radar of Liverpool.
The Blues are in the market for a new central defender after the departure of veteran Thiago Silva at the end of last season. They plan to recruit a defender who can instantly challenge for a first-team spot under new manager Enzo Maresca, and Murillo fits that profile perfectly.
The Brazilian, 21, joined Nottingham Forest in a £15 million deal from Brazilian side Corinthians last August and was one of their best players last term as they narrowly avoided the dreaded relegation. His performances haven’t gone unnoticed across the Premier League, with Liverpool also understood to be keen.
However, Chelsea have reportedly approached Forest to explore a deal for Murillo, expected to cost at least £50 million after an impressive debut season in England. It is believed that the Blues have informed the Midlands club that they will not match their valuation and are considering offering two players as part of their attempt to sweeten the negotiations. Corinthians are entitled to 10 per cent of any transfer fee Forest receive from the 21-year-old centre-back’s sale.
Murillo could be a strong addition to Chelsea’s defensive unit
Murillo has been a hit at Forest, and it is understandable why he is interested, with Chelsea seemingly asking the Tricky Trees about his availability in club-to-club talks. The Brazilian youngster Isak could be an ideal signing to strengthen Chelsea’s squad, but he won’t come cheap.
The 21-year-old is certainly not someone Nuno Espirito Santo and Forest will want to let go, and one imagines they will be especially keen not to see him leave for another Premier League club after narrowly avoiding relegation. Murillo’s profile should be very attractive to the current Chelsea ownership, with the West London club prioritising bringing in several best young talents from the world rather than ready-made superstars.
Under Enzo Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino at the end of last season, the club will continue building for the long term and Murillo could end up being a superb acquisition to the team. With Forest under threat of breaching FFP again, Chelsea could take advantage of their situation and try getting the Brazilian defender for a modest fee.
As Liverpool are also interested, the Blues must push for Murillo’s signing and get a deal done as quickly as possible.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
