Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and the club's recruitment team have reportedly identified four defenders from the Premier League as potential transfer targets.
On the back of Nacho Fernandez ending his long-term association with Los Blancos in the summer, the expectation was that a younger alternative would be signed.
However, having chosen not to rival Manchester United for Leny Yoro, the decision was taken to go with their current options for the 2024-25 campaign.
Nevertheless, with Real not possessing a senior centre-back below the age of 26, the European champions will naturally have to conduct business in the market in one of the upcoming transfer windows.
In recent days, a defender from the Bundesliga has been linked with a switch to the La Liga giants, yet another report has emerged which suggests that a quartet from England's top flight are also on the radar.
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Forest defender an option for Real Madrid?
According to HITC, Nottingham Forest defender Murillo has been identified as someone who could make the step up under Carlo Ancelotti.
The Brazilian is no stranger to being linked with bigger clubs having reportedly been considered by an array of Premier League clubs throughout the summer.
Instead, the 22-year-old has remained at Forest and contributed to a five-game unbeaten start, Forest conceding just four goals during that period.
With a contract in place until 2028, the East Midlands outfit will not be in a rush to cash in on the former Corinthians man, yet there is an inevitability that he will eventually sign for a higher-profile team if he continues on his current trajectory.
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Who else could be targeted?
Arsenal's William Saliba, Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero and Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite are the other trio said to feature on this particular shortlist.
Saliba is currently part of a formidable Gunners backline and signed a contract extension last year, yet his current terms only run until 2027.
The same applies with each of Romero and Branthwaite, there needing to be developments on that front for their respective clubs to retain valuations for the trio that will be of at least £60m.
Theoretically, Forest will value Murillo in the same price bracket, potentially even higher should he take the next step and make his debut for Brazil in due course.
Darren Plant
