Liverpool are seriously considering signing Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo but could face competition from Chelsea, as TEAMtalk reveals.

The Reds have drawn up a shortlist of centre-back targets amid the uncertainty surrounding Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

Van Dijk hasn’t completely ruled out signing a new contract Liverpool He has a contract, but the club plans to make defensive reinforcements regardless of next summer.

“I can clearly say that contract talks are ongoing, but I don’t know, we’ll see what happens in the future,” Van Dijk said last week.

“My full focus is on Liverpool, I want to win the games I have in front of me, nothing else. I don’t know what the future holds at the moment.”

Sources have told TEAMtalk that 22-year-old Murillo has ‘forced’ his way onto Liverpool’s shortlist as a top defensive target. We know the Reds plan to keep a close eye on him throughout the season before deciding whether to make a move next summer.

Liverpool’s priority next summer will be to sign a centre-back who is good enough to go straight into the first 11. Murillo and Sporting CP star Gonaclo Inacio are their current biggest targets. Meanwhile, Sevilla star Loic Bade is considered a low-cost and quality option and he will also be watched by the Reds this season.

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Liverpool and Chelsea are fans of Murillo – sources

TEAMtalk knows Murillo is in the game too Chelsea’s Shortlist, but at the moment they are still analyzing the areas they want to focus on in the upcoming transfer window and there may be other priorities they need to sort out before signing a centre-back.

Enzo Maresca is happy with his current squad and does not plan to make any major additions in January, with the Blues expecting a relatively quiet winter period.

In any case, Nottingham Forest They have no intention of letting Murillo leave in January but a big offer at the end of the season could force them.

The defender played a key role in Tricky Trees’ superb start to the season, placing them seventh in the Premier League standings.

Forest are yet to formalize a price tag for Murillo but TEAMtalk sources say they will consider offers in the region of £60m to £70m.

Inacio would therefore be a slightly cheaper option given his Sporting CP contract has a €60m (£50.2m/$65m) release clause. #

Bade also has a €60m (£50.2m/$65m) release clause in his Sevilla contract, but there should be room for negotiation on this even if the LaLiga side are now demanding the full amount.

Liverpool rumor: Latest Alexander-Arnold / Arda Güler linked

Meanwhile, the Liverpool hierarchy’s current focus is on tying down Trent Alexander-Arnold to a new contract in the face of tangible interest from Real Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold’s current contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he will be eligible to sign a pre-contract with any foreign club from the beginning of January ahead of a free transfer next summer.

Real Madrid has identified the Liverpool star as a priority target due to Dani Carvajal’s injury problems. Reports suggest that the LaLiga giants are prepared to pay £14 million to £15 million a year for Alexander-Arnold at the Bernabeu. They want him to sign a contract by summer 2030.

Sources have repeatedly told TEAMtalk that Liverpool are confident Alexander-Arnold will sign a new deal at Anfield, but the closer we get to January the more speculation about his future will grow.

On the other hand, it is reported that Liverpool is interested in 19-year-old Arda Güler, one of Real Madrid’s most exciting young people.

Reports suggest that a bid of £67 million could be enough to sign the Turkish footballer, who can operate as a right winger or attacking midfielder.

Güler’s transfer was also reflected in Arsenal. so we could potentially see Arsenal go head-to-head with Liverpool for his signature.

IN FOCUS: Murillo vs Van Dijk, Prem stats this season

Murillo has become one of Forest’s key players since joining from Corinthians in a £15 million deal in the summer of 2023.

The 22-year-old Brazilian defender still has room for improvement, and as you can see from the statistics, Van Dijk is performing much better than him in an important area.

Van Dijk has always been one of the best readers of football and it would be a huge loss for Liverpool if he decides to leave the club next summer.

Murillo’s ability to make more tackles may improve with more experience, but keeping Van Dijk’s legacy alive at Anfield will be an almost impossible task for any defender.

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