Chelsea face Murillo competition as rivals 'enquire' over £70m deal

Chelsea's plans to bolster their defensive ranks with the signing of a highly-rated Premier League centre-back could reportedly be scuppered by Juventus.

The Blues have already added to their rearguard with the free transfer of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham, but more reinforcements are still being sought by Enzo Maresca.

The West London giants have already waved goodbye to Thiago Silva, who has returned to his native Brazil with Fluminense, while the ostracised Malang Sarr should soon head for the exit door too.

In addition, the long-term futures of Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill - who has been linked with a move to Liverpool - remain unclear, while Wesley Fofana has been plagued by a couple of serious injuries.

Chelsea's search for more options at the back reportedly led them to take an interest in Nottingham Forest's Murillo, who was one of the shining lights in a troubled campaign for the Tricky Trees last term.

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Juventus ask for 'conditions' about Murillo deal

The 21-year-old took the City Ground by storm upon his summer arrival from Corinthians, recording two assists in 36 matches across all tournaments to ensure survival for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

Forest paid just £10.2m to bring Murillo to the Premier League last season, but they would reportedly now demand at least £70m to sell the South American, who has four years left on his contract.

In another blow to Chelsea's hopes of sealing Murillo's signature, journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that Italian giants Juventus have now asked Nottingham Forest about the 'conditions' to sign Murillo this summer.

Juventus and Chelsea are believed to be just two of a number of revered clubs who have short-listed Murillo as an ideal summer signing, although the Bianconeri should also be quoted around £70m for his signature.

Such an extortionate fee could prove difficult for Juventus to fork out, but Thiago Motta's side have tested the waters anyway amid fears that they could lose out on Bologna's Riccardo Calafiori.

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The Italy international has been expected to follow Motta to Turin from Dall'Ara, but all of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur could try to lure him to England with a more lucrative financial package.

Forest 'under less pressure' to sell Murillo

As well as the competition from Italy, Chelsea could run into some stiff resistance from Nottingham Forest themselves, as the Tricky Trees are seemingly not under as much pressure to let Murillo leave.

Forest have been named as one of several Premier League sides facing potential Profit and Sustainability rule breaches if they failed to make sales before June 30, but they are on the brink of letting Moussa Niakhate leave for Lyon.

The 28-year-old will follow Orel Mangala to France after the midfielder spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan with the Ligue 1 side, who should exercise their right to make his stay permanent.

As a result, Forest have no real need to desperately raise funds over the weekend through selling Murillo, whom they can therefore afford to drive a hard bargain for.

Written by
Ben Knapton