Report: Liverpool and Chelsea Pursue Nottingham Forest's Murillo

Football Insider says Liverpool and Chelsea want Nottingham Forest's Murillo next year, but the club will not sell the 24-year-old defender in January.

Liverpool and Chelsea are competing to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, according to a Football Insider report from Pete O'Rourke carried by Yahoo Sports on October 4. The report says both clubs have entered the pursuit with a move in mind for next year. Murillo, a 24-year-old Brazilian, has been linked as a possible long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.

A midseason move appears unlikely. According to the report, Forest will not consider selling during the upcoming January transfer window. Any club hoping to land the Brazilian would need to return with an approach in a later window.

Liverpool's interest is tied to a possible overhaul of its back line. The commentary notes that if Joe Gomez, Van Dijk and Ronald Araujo all depart at the end of the 2026-27 season, 21-year-old Jeremy Jacquet would stand as the club's most senior center back. That scenario is cited as a reason an experienced addition holds appeal.

The statistical case carries a caution. FotMob figures for the 2026-27 Premier League season, cited alongside the report, compare Murillo with Van Dijk and put Murillo's aerial duel win rate at 47.1 percent. The analysis voices concern about his effectiveness in the air and out of possession relative to Liverpool's established starting pair.

The commentary published alongside the report does see merit in Murillo. It identifies aspects of his game that would appeal to Liverpool and is open to the idea of a more seasoned option in central defense given the possible departures. Even so, it frames the 24-year-old as a squad player rather than a guaranteed starter.

Doubts about his long-term ceiling are stated plainly. The analysis questions whether the Brazilian has the level to stand comparison with Van Dijk over time, while conceding the benchmark is harsh for any developing center back given that it describes the 35-year-old as arguably the greatest living player at the position in Premier League history.

Alternative targets feature in the assessment. Tottenham's Micky van de Ven is not considered a genuine long-term successor either, though the analysis views the Dutchman as closer to the baseline Liverpool would demand. Brighton's Luka Vuskovic is presented as a high-ceiling option the writer would rather see the club fund heavily.

The likely timetable runs to the summer. Any Liverpool push for an experienced signing this summer would depend on what happens with Van Dijk and Araujo, and on that basis the analysis does not expect Murillo to sit at the very top of the shortlist.

Chelsea, the other club linked with Murillo, are on the road in the Premier League this weekend. They visit West Ham United on Sunday, October 4 at 9:00 AM EDT at Victoria Road, with the match streaming on Paramount+.