Defensive emergency! Chelsea enter the race for Nottingham Forest rock Murillo
The chase for one of the Premier League's most coveted defenders has a new heavyweight. Chelsea have joined a crowded queue for Nottingham Forest's Brazilian wall, and their coach is personally driving the pursuit.
Details: According to Football Insider, Chelsea have entered the race to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. Xabi Alonso is keen on adding a quick, aggressive centre-back to his defence and is pushing for the 24-year-old's signing, with Chelsea long-term admirers of the Brazilian.
The interest comes as no surprise. Alonso has been a known admirer of Murillo for months and views him as the exact profile to fix a Chelsea back line that has leaked goals this season, wanting a quick, aggressive centre-back who can defend space and step into midfield. Chelsea, however, are not alone. Liverpool have rekindled their long-standing pursuit as they plan for life after Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires at the end of the season, while Football Insider revealed on October 2 that Manchester United have also joined the race, with Michael Carrick's recruitment team targeting centre-backs for 2027. Arsenal and Tottenham have monitored Murillo in the past, and Bayern Munich have been mentioned as possible bidders too. The obstacles are significant. Murillo only signed a new long-term contract in May 2026 keeping him at the City Ground until 2030, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has slapped a huge price tag on his head, and the club's hierarchy has no intention of selling in January, needing neither the money nor the disruption. The Brazilian, signed from Corinthians in August 2023, has grown into one of the division's most complete defenders, this season even setting a Premier League record with 17 clearances in a single match against Liverpool.
It's worth noting that Murillo's release-proof contract situation is precisely why Forest feel they can dictate terms: any deal would command a fee comfortably above the £55 million club record Newcastle paid for Anthony Elanga, and insiders expect nothing to happen before next summer at the earliest.
Reminder: Premier League giants on alert! Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea eyeing Igor Matanović
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
