Many feel that Enzo Maresca did not get the backing that he deserved this summer, after winning the Club World Cup for Chelsea recently. The Blues still seem short of options in a few positions, coming out of the transfer window. One of them has to be centre-back, with Levi Colwill suffering potentially a season-ending ACL injury in pre-season training.
Maresca's comments in the media following that injury did suggest that he wanted Chelsea to bring in another centre-back this summer. But that was not done even though they were linked with quite a few.
It remains to be seen if they reignite their interest in signing another centre-back in the January transfer window. The club have been told that one Premier League defender could help them win the title.
Barcelona and Arsenal are believed to be the leading candidates to sign Murillo, if he left Nottingham Forest in the near future. Kurtis Leyland wrote for 3 Added Minutes:
"However, it could be argued that Murillo would be best suited to Chelsea at this stage as it’s the place where he’s most likely to get regular minutes and provide an upgrade on what they already have."
Chelsea tipped to make blockbuster €80m signing in January
Let's turn back the clock. Liverpool went out and signed a certain Virgil van Dijk in January all those years ago. It is that signing, alongside that of Mohamed Salah, that has gone on to define an era of success for the Reds and brought them back to the pinnacle of English and European football.
Chelsea should look to do something similar with Murillo this January. Of course, that is not to say that the Brazilian is going to turn out to be the next Van Dijk. But there is little doubt that he is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League right now.
After Arsenal signed Piero Hincapie late in the summer window, and with the options they already have been in defence, it is hard to see them going out and signing Murillo as well. And with the financial struggles at Barcelona, Chelsea might have an advantage in a transfer race.