Chelsea have expressed an interest in signing Nottingham Forest defender, Murillo, according to some Brazilian outlets. The 22-year-old impressed in his European debut at the Midlands club. His performance has been one of the few positives in the club’s fight against relegation last season.
The Brazilian’s tough build plays a vital role in his defensive performance. His physicality coupled with his pace makes it difficult for any player to get past him. For a defender, his skills and ability to drive past players in the midfield are not to be taken lightly. The goal-line clearance with a diving header against Wolves was one of his best moments at Forest. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are other teams that highly rate the defender.
How Chelsea Can Rope Him In
Murillo is believed to be priced around £51m, though it is unlikely that Chelsea would pay this amount. Last season saw the exit of Brazilian legend, Thiago Silva, after spending 4 years. His departure made way for the signing of Fulham defender, Tosin Adarabioyo, on a free transfer.
There is no news of a formal contact between the two clubs but Chelsea have enquired about the availability of the player through their network. Rumours suggest the Blues are formulating an alternate strategy of swapping a couple of players for Murillo. It is no secret that Chalobah has been on the transfer shortlist lately after falling down the pecking order. Badiashile, who arrived at Stamford Bridge last year, hasn’t lived up to the expectations of the fans, though many may feel he needs more time to prove his worth. However, both the players could be added in the swap deal if the management considers the Brazilian a priority.
Nottingham Forest faced a 4-point deduction for breaching the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) of the Premier League. They would have repeated the mistake had they not sold Moussa Niakhate and Orel Managala to Lyon before the deadline. Murillo’s potential transfer to Chelsea can further act as a precautionary measure and provide monetary benefit.
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Murillo’s Response to The Transfer Rumours
The Forest defender confirmed interest from many Premier clubs including Chelsea. He has been quite vocal about his ambitions of playing for the biggest teams in Europe. Murillo joined Nottingham Forest on a £15m transfer from Corinithians. He is not hesitant about expressing his desire to move to a bigger club after just a year with the English side.
On a podcast, the South American revealed he is open to offers from Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal. At the moment, he has decided to remain calm and let nature take its own course. Regardless of how Chelsea’s final backline would look like, they will have big shoes to fill.
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