Harry Maguire's Manchester United contract expires at the end of this Premier League season after only signing a one-year extension to his current deal last summer
Harry Maguire arrives for a Manchester United training session at the club's Carrington base
Harry Maguire could leave Manchester United in the summer(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
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Manchester United are said to be considering signing Murillo from Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window as a replacement for the out-of-contract Harry Maguire.
Maguire's current deal is due to expire at the end of this season, after only signing a one-year extension with the club last summer. The former United captain has started just four matches this season due to a hamstring injury.
Ayden Heaven has stepped up in his absence to start the club's last eight Premier League matches. United have Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt as their other central defenders in a back four.
The Daily Mail reports that United are targeting a replacement for Maguire, with Murillo one of the prominent options on their radar. Just a year after signing a new contract, the Brazilian is reportedly open to a move away from Forest.
Murillo, whose transfermarkt value is £48million, said after committing his future to the club: "I'm very thankful and very happy that there are four more years to come. I'm thankful to everyone for the support – not just to me, but to my family as well.
"Everywhere I go, every shop, wherever it is, they treat my family and me really well, so I'm very grateful for everything they do for the team and for me. I'm sure that we've got a big future in front of us."
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also added: "We dream big, and so does he. He believes in the power of what we are doing at this great club. When we share the same bold ambitions, there is no limit to what we can achieve together."
Much has changed over the last year, though. Nuno Espirito Santo is no longer in charge and Forest are back in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
They are seven points clear of the relegation zone, but Forest are also sure not to be competing in any UEFA competitions next season unless they win the Europa League. United are 11 points better off than Murillo's current club and are aiming for a return to Europe next season.
Maguire, meanwhile, has already spoken about the reality that, as it stands, this is his last year at the club. He said after United beat Liverpool in October: "I've been here seven years now, so it's been tough not getting that win.
"It's been on my mind a little bit, to be honest. I'm in my last year now, so this could be the last time I played at Anfield for this club, so it's really important that I've come here and ticked that one off."
Speaking about his contract extension in August, Maguire said: "Last year, the clause was in their hands, so there was no option for me there. There was no talking; it was just that they activated it, and it got extended.
"This year, obviously, I'm up at the end of the year. I'm pretty sure the club have made it aware this summer that I can't leave the club on any terms with other clubs enquiring about my things and my position with my contract.
"I'm sure over the next few months they'll sit down, and we'll have to have a conversation about where we want to go and if they want to extend, or obviously the transfer window will open again in January.
"Obviously, I have something in my mind about what I want to do and what I want to be. I don't want to put it out there to everybody, but it's an amazing club to play for, and you'd be silly if you wanted to jump out of it as soon as you could."