Liverpool are among a trio of clubs monitoring a summer move for Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo, with TEAMtalk reporting that Arsenal and Manchester United are also tracking the 23-year-old Brazilian as one of the most in-demand defenders in the Premier League.
The asking price being quoted by Forest to discourage exploratory interest sits above £60 million, and the club’s position throughout this season has been consistent: Murillo is not for sale, and any club seeking to open meaningful negotiations should expect significant resistance from owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Liverpool’s interest is the most structurally urgent of the three. Virgil van Dijk’s contract runs to the end of next season, and the questions around the club’s central defensive succession are becoming impossible to defer without a plan in place.
Murillo fits the profile Liverpool have historically targeted — young, athletic, comfortable with the ball, capable of joining attacks. His age gives him room to grow into one of the best defenders in Europe, which is precisely why Forest are determined to hold on.
Arsenal’s interest is less imminent — Arteta has Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel as his current centre-back options — but the injury concerns that have shadowed White’s season and the general imperative to build squad depth have made defensive reinforcement a priority for this summer’s window.
Man United’s link is the most lateral of the three. Their defensive unit has actually stabilised under Carrick, with Harry Maguire’s form improving significantly since the back four was restored, but long-term planning requires adding a player who can grow into the spine of the squad.
The summer competition for Murillo’s signature, if Forest do eventually allow a sale, is likely to be fierce. Europa League football, a manager known for building playing careers, and the momentum of their current season all give Vitor Pereira significant leverage to say no.
