Chelsea have joined the race for the signature of Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, while a lot of top European clubs have also been admiring the player. The January transfer window is closing in, and the number of the players who are being linked with the clubs is increasing as teams are getting ready for their second-half-season plans.
Maresca Pinpoints Murillo as His Main Target
Chelsea were monitoring Murillo throughout the entire summer. Enzo Maresca sees him as an ideal player who fits seamlessly into his defense. The 23-year-old has won over critics with his calmness, accurate time and high confidence level while on the ball. What makes him even more attractive to be the one of Chelsea’s long-term options is his youth and development potential.
Chelsea like to do business for the future early and Murillo has been on their scouting radar for the past several months. The club is always planning for the future thus signing a young Premier League-ready centre back is still an option they like to keep open.
Competitors May Outweigh Chelsea
Chelsea are not the only ones now chasing him. Arsenal jump into the race, show interest in him, and probably will move fast to strengthen their push for him. Also, Barcelona regard Murillo as their future defensive pillar when they rehabilitate their old backline.
Forest will not let him go for less than a significant amount as he turned out to be their centre of gravity. The ensuing bidding war might be a problem for Chelsea to navigate as they plan their next moves. The Blues could back off if the rate goes too high, especially when there are many clubs pushing aggressively.
Author’s Opinion
Murillo is a great player, but I think such a transaction is out of Chelsea’s reach at this moment. The move is very challenging because of the competition and the fee they are expecting.
As featured on Chelseanews.com