There is still plenty of time left between now and the summer transfer window and yet, Chelsea have already identified a priority signing as Liam Rosenior looks to shake-up his defensive options.
Rosenior has a wealth of options at centre-back, but no standout option. Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah are arguably first choice, with Benoit Badiashile and Mamadou Sarr providing Chelsea cover.
Tosin Adarabioyo is closing in on a return from injury, while Levi Colwill is on the comeback trail after a long stint on the sidelines. Then, Rosenior and Chelsea have two central defenders currently out on loan.
Discuss: Murillo would be Chelsea’s best CB if he joins…
Forest want £50m.
Axel Disasi has little future at Chelsea, having joined West Ham on loan while Aaron Anselmino continues to learn his trade at Strasbourg. Many options, but none of them good enough to start week in, week out.
Chelsea make Murillo priority and learn Brazilian star’s stance
Chelsea were linked with a move for Murillo over the weekend, with a £50m fee required to land the former Corinthians defender. Now, a report from Caught Offside describe Murillo as a ‘priority’.
Brighton & Hove Albion FC v Nottingham Forest FC - Premier League
Photo by David Horton – CameraSport via Getty Images
The report indicates what was said over the weekend, that Tottenham, Man United and Liverpool are also interested. But Chelsea are advancing in a deal to sign Murillo, with an exit deemed inevitable.
But Caught Offside say that it isn’t just Premier League clubs interested. Indeed, PSG, Real Madrid and Saudi Arabian sides also want Murillo. However, they say Murillo wants to remain in English football.
These days, players rarely come out and admit that they would like to join a different club. But in 2024, that’s exactly what Murillo did, having spent a year at the City Ground. He said he’d like Man City.
If you could spend £50m on a centre-back, who are YOU choosing? 💵
Forest want £50m for Murillo.
But Murillo, on the Benja Me Mucho podcast, also said he would entertain a move to Anfield: “I’d choose Man City, but it would be more difficult to be a regular starter given the players they have in their squad.
“I wouldn’t discard Liverpool either; it would be a good opportunity for me to show my football in a big club,” Murillo continued, clearly showing his ambition but potentially angering Chelsea fans in the future.
Nevertheless, Murillo would be a top signing. A ball-carrying defender that is confident enough to come out of defence and make incisive, playmaker-like passes. Whether Chelsea can convince, is still unclear.
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