{"id":37902,"date":"2026-01-16T01:45:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T06:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/manchester-united-aim-to-sign-very-talented-premier-league-defender\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T01:45:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T06:45:47","slug":"manchester-united-aim-to-sign-very-talented-premier-league-defender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/manchester-united-aim-to-sign-very-talented-premier-league-defender\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United aim to sign &#8216;very talented&#8217; Premier League defender"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/manchester-united-aim-to-sign-very-talented-premier-league-defender\/#Murillo_impressed_Man_United_scouts\" >Murillo impressed Man United scouts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/manchester-united-aim-to-sign-very-talented-premier-league-defender\/#Murillo_is_open_to_summer_transfer_interest_is_growing\" >Murillo is open to summer transfer, interest is growing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Manchester United have identified Nottingham Forest defender Murillo as a top target in their summer rebuild, with the club determined to strengthen a backline that has struggled all season.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to the Daily Mail, United see the Brazilian centre-back as the ideal long-term successor to Harry Maguire, who is set to leave Old Trafford after seven years at the club.<\/p>\n<p>The Red Devils have kept just two clean sheets all season, both at Old Trafford, showing they are in dire need of reinforcements in their defense.<\/p>\n<p>Injuries, inconsistency and a lack of cohesion have characterized United&#8217;s defensive performances, with recruitment departments shifting their focus to centre-backs for next season.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Murillo_impressed_Man_United_scouts\"><\/span>Murillo impressed Man United scouts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Murillo has quickly emerged as one of the most promising young defenders in the Premier League due to his combination of calmness and quality of ball-play.<\/p>\n<p>United&#8217;s scouts have monitored him extensively over the past year and believe he fits the modern profile needed to improve their backline.<\/p>\n<p>Mick Brown described the Forest defenders&#8217; defensive ability as &#8220;very effective&#8221;.<\/p>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"2\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>statistics<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>premier league<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>europe league<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>all competitions<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">number of matches played<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,1,1,0\">15<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,1,2,0\">5<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,1,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,1,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">twenty one<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">the goal<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,2,1,0\">1<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,2,2,0\">0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,2,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,2,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">1<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">assist<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,3,1,0\">0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,3,2,0\">0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,3,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,3,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">clean sheet<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,4,1,0\">2<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,4,2,0\">1<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,4,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,4,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">3<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,5,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Completing the path<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,5,1,0\">85%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,5,2,0\">82%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,5,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,5,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">84%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,6,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,6,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">yellow card<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,6,1,0\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,6,2,0\">1<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,6,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,6,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">4<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,7,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,7,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">tackle win<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,7,1,0\">12<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,7,2,0\">4<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"2,7,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,7,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">16<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Murillo_is_open_to_summer_transfer_interest_is_growing\"><\/span>Murillo is open to summer transfer, interest is growing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Murillo plays for Nottingham Forest (Photo by Angel Martinez\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The 23-year-old Brazilian is reportedly open to leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of the season, with several top clubs in England and Europe also monitoring his situation.<\/p>\n<p>Murillo is an extremely valuable left-handed centre-back in world football, and if Forest are willing to negotiate, it is expected that there will be fierce competition.<\/p>\n<p>His contractual situation strengthens Forest&#8217;s negotiating position. Murillo still has three and a half years left on his contract, and a move is likely to involve a huge transfer fee.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Carrick&#8217;s first contract? Manchester United eyeing \u00a330m move to sign Tottenham in January <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester United have identified Nottingham Forest defender Murillo as a top target in their summer rebuild, with the club determined to strengthen a backline that has struggled all season. According to the Daily Mail, United see the Brazilian centre-back as the ideal long-term successor to Harry Maguire, who is set to leave Old Trafford after [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[40],"class_list":{"0":"post-37902","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37902"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37902\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}