Manchester United are eyeing the summer transfer window when they will need a replacement for the departing Harry Maguire, but top target Murillo could be in trouble.
Murillo could leave Nottingham Forest in the summer (Image: Neal Simpson/Getty Images)
Manchester United are reportedly targeting Murillo for a summer move, but convincing the Nottingham Forest star may prove difficult. Murillo has emerged as a target as United look to replace Harry Maguire this summer.
Maguire’s contract with United is due to expire in June, and the club’s recruitment department is currently considering potential replacements and making plans. Murillo has impressed since joining Forest from Corinthians for £10m in 2023 and is understood to be open to leaving at the end of the 2025/26 season, despite signing a new contract a year ago.
Forest sit 17th in the Premier League, with Sean Dyche taking over as their third manager this season after Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou were sacked. They need to win the Europa League to qualify for Europe again, so they could struggle to retain star players like Murillo and Elliott Anderson.
United are interested in both the defender and midfielder but know they will face stiff competition, especially if they fail to return to Europe under the guidance of Michael Carrick. In Murillo’s case, they have made it clear that they want to play for their biggest rival.
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The 23-year-old told the Benja Me Mucho podcast a year ago: “I had a dream of playing in the Premier League and I was thinking, ‘I’m going to go to Nottingham Forest, have a good year and then go to a big club.’
“It was in my head. I would choose Manchester City, but given the players in the team it would be more difficult to become a regular. There are also City and Arsenal who are competing for the Premier League title. I also don’t want to give up Liverpool. It would be a good opportunity to show my football at a big club.”
Back in January 2025, Liverpool had the strongest links with Murillo, and with Ibrahima Konate’s current contract expiring, the Reds are also looking to sign a centre-back this summer.
Manchester United could face competition for Murillo this summer (Image: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
They face competition for the Crystal Palace star from Manchester City after their £35m deal for Marc Guehi fell apart on deadline day in the summer, but they have injury problems.
Murillo has made 96 appearances for Forest since joining two-and-a-half years ago, forming a solid partnership with Nikola Milenkovic. Interest in his services is not new for Forest, who also rejected a “club-record offer” to sign him from Chelsea last year.
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