Liverpool and Chelsea are reportedly main the race to signal a Premier League defender who’s very a lot in demand.
Along with Marc Guehi (when he was nonetheless at Crystal Palace), Anfield chiefs had additionally taken an curiosity in Nottingham Forest’s Murillo final summer season when potential centre-back recruits.
Alas, the Brazilian remained with the Garibaldi and scored of their 3-0 away win towards the Reds in November, a fortnight after Virgil van Dijk had a near-identical aim disallowed in our defeat at Manchester Metropolis.
Liverpool and Chelsea main Murillo switch race
Based on switch insider Graeme Bailey for TEAMtalk, Liverpool and Chelsea have ‘achieved extra groundwork’ on the 23-year-old than different potential suitors, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all reportedly monitoring the defender.
It’s claimed that Nottingham Forest are ‘absolutely conscious’ of Murillo’s want to ‘take the following step’ in his profession, with an inside acknowledgement that the centre-back has ‘most likely hit his ceiling’ on the Metropolis Floor, though the Midlands membership are anticipated to hunt upwards of £50m in the event that they’re to promote the participant.
Together with Chelsea, the Reds ‘stay essentially the most superior’ of their pursuit of the Brazilian, who is alleged to be ‘getting ready to depart’ his present membership in the summertime.
Murillo would tick loads of packing containers for Liverpool
His ex-Forest teammate Joe Worrall has beforehand sounded a glowing character refrence for the 23-year-old, hailing him as ‘a tremendous expertise’ and a ‘fighter’ who’s ‘so silky together with his ft’ however also can ‘learn hazard’ (The Guardian).
That preferrred mix of talent and metal is evidenced by his underlying efficiency figures from the season up to now, as seen within the desk beneath evaluating his statistics with different Premier League centre-backs (through Fotmob).
2025/26 Premier League
Per 90 minutes
Percentile rating amongst positional friends
Correct lengthy balls
3.77
ninetieth (high 10%)
Profitable dribbles
0.52
89th
Interceptions
1.57
87th
Recoveries
4.41
eighty fifth
Blocks
1.04
84th
The Liverpool hierarchy might or might not have the chance to see him firsthand when Arne Slot’s facet journey to the Metropolis Floor on Sunday – he’s missed the Garibaldi’s final couple of video games with a calf harm however might doubtlessly be again in time to face the Reds subsequent weekend (Premier Accidents).
Though LFC have already strengthened their centre-back ranks for subsequent season with the latest signing of Jeremy Jacquet, who’ll arrive from Rennes in the summertime, additional reinforcements may be wanted if Ibrahima Konate doesn’t signal a brand new contract on Merseyside.
Along with his aforementioned attributes, Murillo has additionally confirmed that he can excel within the Premier League, and at 23 he ought to get even higher over the following few years as he comes into the prime of his profession.
If Liverpool’s powers of persuasion can exceed Chelsea’s and if the Reds can summon the mandatory funds, there appears to be scope for a deal to be achieved, given the participant’s obvious readiness to maneuver onto a recent footballing chapter.
