Premier League & European giants eye Murillo

Premier League clubs are reported to be on the trail of Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, who could be on the move if Forest need to raise cash to avoid further financial breaches.

Forest were hit with a four-point deduction earlier this week, pushing them into the relegation zone, and potentially face falling foul of the strict regulations again next season without intervention.

Murillo in particular is a player who could command a handsome fee. The Daily Mail writes that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United are among domestic sides to have taken an interest in the 21-year-old centre-back, who only joined Forest from Corinthians last summer.

Slightly further afield, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping tabs, which could present the Brazilian plenty of options if Forest do find themselves needing to cash in.

Murillo has stared all of Forest’s Premier League games since the start of October and has impressed even in turbulent circumstances. What’s more, his potential is sky high, having only started playing senior football in Brazil as recently as last year.

The player cost Forest a reported €12m (£10.3m) before add-ons last summer, but is already valued by Transfermarkt at €25m (£21.5m), meaning there is potentially a substantial profit to be made.

With Murillo at the heart of their defence, Forest have shipped significantly fewer goals (51) than all of the other struggling teams around them – Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United have each conceded at least 60. Forest’s goals against column is only three more than Newcastle, who are tenth, and one more than West Ham, seventh.