Murillo is looking to leave Nottingham Forest.placeholder image
Murillo is looking to leave Nottingham Forest. | Wolves via Getty Images
Liam Rosenior is not short of centre-back options at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea have been putting in the groundwork on a potential summer transfer swoop.
Chelsea are reported to have ‘firm’ interest in Nottingham Forest defender Murillo ahead of the summer transfer window with the Brazilian defender prepared to leave The City Ground and join a Premier League rival.
The Blues are already well stocked for options at the heart of defence with Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong all in the squad. However, the London outfit is known for its high turnover of players and are said to be alongside Liverpool in having done the most ‘groundwork’ on a potential deal for Murillo over the past 12 months.
TEAMtalk reports that the 23-year-old’s representatives are ‘actively assessing’ new clubs for the player with a move to a top six club on the cards. Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also said to have monitored the player ‘extensively’ and cannot be ruled out of a summer swoop.
Nottingham Forest put £50m price tag on Murillo amid Chelsea interest
It’s added that Nottingham Forest are aware of Murillo’s desire to leave and will demand a fee upwards of £50 million to green light a sale. The defender signed a new four-year deal with Forest in January 2025 and there is not believed to be a release clause in that contract, handing the club negotiating power.
Forest paid just £15 million to sign Murillo from Corinthians in August 2023. He has gone on to make 100 appearances for the club.
Former Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall had deemed Murillo to be worth £50 million when speaking about the player 12 months ago, labelling the defender as ‘amazing’. He told The Guardian: “He’s quick, strong, can head it, reads danger really well. I think that’s something that you watch for with players who are good with the ball who play centre-back. They dribble with it and they pass it and whatever, but can they defend? He can read danger.
“He’s in the right place at the right time. It’s no fluke – he just knows, it’s something that he’s checking. He’s worth well north of £50m in my eyes. It’ll be a travesty if Forest let him go for a penny less.”
In other news, Chelsea could sell £104m and anger Liam Rosenior after 'phenomenal' player's 9/10 performance v Leeds.
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