According to the most recent sources, Liverpool and Manchester United are expected to engage in a “bidding war” for a Premier League player. That would be a clever move.
Given that Joël Matip’s departure is expected, Liverpool might try to acquire a central defender this summer. The Cameroonian’s current contract is set to expire at the end of June, and following an ACL injury sustained during the season, the club has chosen not to extend its offer to the 32-year-old.
In Matip’s stead, Jarell Quansah has demonstrated his mettle to the point where the English teenager is now guaranteed a spot in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary Euro 2024 team. That doesn’t mean Liverpool won’t make a move this summer to get a Matip substitute, though.
The team needs to start thinking ahead of time because Virgil van Dijk is also getting into his mid-30s. Nottingham Forest defender Murillo is one of the names being linked to a move to Anfield.
The Premier League’s profit and sustainability criteria require Forest to sell some first-team players this summer, thus Liverpool will compete with Manchester United to sign the player, according to the website Football Insider.
Murillo is reportedly valued at $50 million (£40 million/€46 million), which would represent a considerable return for Forest considering that it acquired him from Brazilian team Corinthians three years prior for $19 million (£15 million/€17 million). Given that Murillo has been among Forest’s finest performers lately, a bidding battle between the two teams may theoretically raise the asking price even further.
In 2023–2024, Murillo played 32 games for Forest in the Premier League as the Midlands team narrowly avoided relegation by finishing 17th in the standings and slightly ahead of Luton Town. He was praised for his dribbles out of the back, which is something Liverpool could wish to emulate now that Matip is gone. He was a great player.
Liverpool.com says: The question really is whether his ceiling is high enough or whether there might be a better option out there. Playing for Liverpool compared to Nottingham Forest, Murillo would have more chances to dribble forward and cause chaos but is he strong enough defensively to be a long-term defender for the Reds? He would also have to accept a lot more competition for minutes, though the return to the Champions League for Liverpool will mean more games.
