An exclusive transfer report has revealed that both Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in signing Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, which would mean another defender transfer battle between the clubs after the Jeremy Jacquet transfer saga. Murillo has established himself as one of the finest defenders in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, and thus it's not a surprise to see two top Premier League teams rumoured to be linked with the Brazilian.
Who is leading the race to sign Forest defender Murillo according to transfer reports?
An exclusive transfer report from football insider has claimed that Chelsea are currently ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, according to their sources. The 23-year-old Brazilian is keen to remain in the Premier League and does not see himself playing in the Championship, with both clubs willing to offer him a move to strengthen their defences.
Forest are known for standing firm on their top talents and previously set a £50 million price tag for Murillo. However, their position in a relegation battle could change the dynamics. If Forest go down, they may be forced to lower their demands, but if they survive, they will have stronger bargaining power to demand a premium fee from Chelsea or Liverpool.
Our opinion on Liverpool and Chelsea battling it out for Murillo
If this transfer report is true, then it promises to be yet another intense one between Liverpool and Chelsea. In addition to the recent Jérémy Jacquet transfer battle, Liverpool and Chelsea were also involved in a heated transfer competition for the signature of Moises Caicedo from Brighton a few years back, which ended with Chelsea signing the player on a British-record fee.
It looks likely that Murillo would leave Nottingham Forest regardless of whether they end up in the Premier League or not. The 23 year old Brazilian is a talented defender with a huge potential to reach world-class levels, but his next choice of club would play a huge role in determining his growth. Our personal opinion is Liverpool would be the best club for him if he has to choose between the Reds and Chelsea. The instability at Chelsea and their refusal to sign older defenders with leadership means Murillo might struggle more at the London club.
At Liverpool, he might get the golden opportunity to play with Virgil Van Dijk and even become his successor after he leaves. Liverpool might also pair Murillo with an experienced centre-back as well if they sign the Forest defender and both Van Dijk and Konate are gone from the club.
Let us wait and see how this transfer saga develops in the summer.
