Chelsea have been busy in the early days of the transfer window as Enzo Maresca looks to stamp his authority on the squad, having arrived as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement as the head coach from Leicester City.
The Italian is keen on raiding fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the summer by signing Murillo, according to Brazilian news outlet UOL, with the Tricky Trees asking for €60 million for his transfer.
Chelsea have no plans to pay the €60 million asking price to Nottingham Forest for the Brazilian centre-back but are willing to offer two first-team players in the deal, although their identities remain unknown for the time being, UOL has added.
The report states that Atletico Madrid were also interested in signing Murillo and enquired about his availability in March but were put off by Forest’s high transfer valuation of the 21-year-old.
The Blues had entered the transfer market under some pressure to sign a central defender but were alleviated by the free signing of Tosin Adarabioyo, who came in from Fulham upon the expiry of his contract.
Though newer, and specifically younger additions do form a part of Chelsea’s transfer plans, it is justified why the club would not want to pay €60 million for Murillo after he survived relegation only marginally last season.
Nottingham finished 17th in the Premier League, just six points off the relegation zone. They also lost 20 times in the season, conceding 67 goals in the process – with the club’s return not fully justifying a €60 million price tag for any of its players.
Murillo, 21, is still a very young player and has some development to do before he can make the step up to one of the Premier League’s bigger sides and another season with Nottingham could set him up well for a transfer next summer.
Though Chelsea’s chances of signing him this summer may hinge on the players they’re offering to Nottingham in the swap, they are likely to continue monitoring him next season as well.
The West Londoners’ odds of bringing the centre-back in could exponentially increase if Forest are relegated from the Premier League.
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