According to the Daily Express, Chelsea is reportedly considering Nottingham Forest defender Murillo’s January move.
Bruce was closely monitoring Gehi’s situation with his background at Cobham Academy and the expiration date of his impending contract at Crystal Palace next summer.
However, as England International is leading the way in their move to Liverpool and Real Madrid, Chelsea shifted their focus to Murillo, a player who has been on the radar since the summer.
Under the management of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea continues to rebuild their teams with the goal of building a Premier League title-winning team.
Chelsea continues to live with Enzo Maresca.
Even during the recent summer transfer period, the Blues attracted attention to strengthening their team after a successful Club World Cup.
Some of the likes of Joao Pedro, Alejandro Garnacho, and Jamie Gittens have joined the club, adding depth and quality to the team.
The Italian manager favors an own-based system with a ball-friendly defender, and considers Murillo the best one for the backline.
The 23-year-old Brazilian was impressed after arriving at Nottingham Forest from the Corinthians in 2023, and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young centre-backs in the Premier League.
His ability to step into the middle, distribute accurately and maintain a sense of calm against the high-strength press side has drawn comparisons with elite modern defenders like Gabriel Magalges and Marquinhos.
Murillo considered an alternative to Marc Guehi
However, the report claims that Chelsea has “excluded” the former academy star’s move, and expects Gehhi to target a bigger stage. Both Liverpool and Real Madrid have expressed serious interest.
Murillo’s performance has captured the eye of several top European clubs, including Barcelona and Arsenal, but Chelsea leads the race against other competitors.
He is described as “one of the best defenders in the Premier League” in the Guardian.
Furthermore, the issue of injuries in Chelsea’s defense this season underscores the need for strengthening.
Report: Chelsea will join Man United in the race of rival club “Fantastic”