Chelsea and Barcelona vying for Brazilian defender making an impression in Premier League

Nottingham Forest defender Murillo Santos has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Chelsea and Barcelona

Murillo is a young Brazilian player who has impressed with his efforts this season. A move to a new club like Chelsea or Barcelona is going to be a huge step forward for his career. The 21-year-old merely joined the City Ground at the end of August.

Since then, Murillo has shown the qualities required to make a long-lasting impression in the Premier League, effectively becoming the club’s first-choice centre-back with 23 starts made since his debut at the beginning of October.

Although Forest have generally underperformed this campaign, Murillo has been one of the shining lights in the team under the boss, either Steve Cooper or Nuno Espirito Santo.

Murillo has made 27 appearances for Forest since his move to the City Ground and provided an assist in a 3-1 win over Newcastle United in December.

Forest has been hit with a four-point deduction for breaking profit and sustainability rules, and while they are likely to launch an appeal, it is thought they are looking to offload stars this summer in order to avoid further problems.

Nottingham have now set an asking price for Murillo and are looking to secure a fee ‘in excess’ of £50 million for their talented defender, according to The Telegraph. Murillo has totally proved his worth in recent times.

Chelsea’s attraction

Murillo’s age makes him particularly attractive to Chelsea, who have decided to prioritize transfers for young players on long contracts in the Todd Boehly era. Chelsea may be in the market for a younger replacement for Thiago Silva ahead of the veteran’s likely departure on a free transfer.

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Chelsea have been struggling for the last two years, so the youngster might find other clubs more attractive, as huge clubs like Barcelona, Arsenal, and Liverpool are also keeping tabs on the youngster.