Manchester United are reportedly considering Nottingham Forest star Murillo as the “perfect” candidate to join them as a centre-back this summer.
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The Brazilian has impressed during his time at Forest and it seems inevitable that he will make the step up to a bigger club soon.
According to iNews, Man United officials believe Murillo has the “perfect combination” of youth and experience, with the 23-year-old already having over 100 appearances under his belt in English football.
The Red Devils could be a long-term replacement for the aging Harry Maguire, who is nearing the end of his contract, and it seems clear that Murillo is seen by club bosses as a deal that ticks all the boxes.
Why Murillo’s transfer would be easy for Manchester United
Our company Transfer Fit evaluation systemwe scored Murillo in Liverpool’s 19/25 game a few days ago when Fichajes named him as the Reds’ top target.
See below to calculate the same score for Murillo and United. They also need a top central defender with exactly this profile…
| Murillo | Total score: 19/25 |
| Transfer fee | *** |
| performance | **** |
| performance | ** |
| career phase | ***** |
| The need for squads | ***** |
But Murillo will also have to think carefully about his next move and it will be interesting to see if he has a clear preference among all the top teams rumored to be chasing him.
Murillo transfer options
It has been previously reported that United and Liverpool, as well as Chelsea, have shown a strong interest in Murillo, and other outlets such as Football Insider and TEAMtalk have also mentioned the Blues, suggesting they are in a good position in the race to sign him.
The battle for Champions League qualification this season could be crucial in the transfer window, and some believe Murillo is unlikely to choose Liverpool or Chelsea if he is unable to return to the top four.
The South American player needs to consider his playing time, but it seems likely that he will be the first choice of any club.
United have a lot of depth in this department thanks to the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Lenny Yolo and Aiden Haven, but while it’s easy to see Murillo as an upgrade over most of them, Martinez has had recurring fitness issues during his time at Old Trafford.
With Ibrahima Konate’s contract expiring, LFC will also need Murillo, and he will certainly have a place in the starting XI at Stamford Bridge over less convincing players like Trevor Chalobah or Tosin Adarabioyo.
