With only a few weeks left before the winter transfer window, several players have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge recently. And Nottingham Forest's star centre-back is one of them, whose name has been coming up for quite some time, as Chelsea seem interested in the player. However, a fresh update has came out on this and it outlined the kind of transfer that the Blues would have to pay in order to sign him.
The player in question is Murillo, who has emerged as one of the most crucial players for Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old has been a standout performer for the club since his arrival in 2023, attracting the interest of major Premier League and European clubs.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea is still interested in Murillo and could make a move for him in January. Multiple outlets have suggested that it could take north of £70m.
However, a January transfer seems doubtful given Nottingham Forest's stance and the player's recent long-term contract extension until 2029. This has put them in a strong position for any potential negotiations.
Chelsea told how much they'll have to pay to sign Murillo
It is no secret that Chelsea could do with another centre-back. Levi Colwill suffered an ACL injury in preseason and may be out for the full season. However, their other options may be insufficient to help them compete for the top prizes. Wesley Fofana is finally fit, but his previous injury troubles are a concern. Trevoh Chalobah has done well this season, but Tosin Adarabioyo might not be good enough, while Josh Acheampong is still a teenager.
And therefore, Murillo becomes an attractive prospect for the Blues as he has shown his quality in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest. Furthermore, he is still relatively young, and could further improve with coaching and experience, which also suits Chelsea's transfer strategy of recruiting young, talented players who can develop into world-class athletes.
However, £70 million is an exorbitant sum for any club to spend in the middle of the season. And this raises the question of whether Chelsea would be willing to do such a huge investment mid-season, when they are already performing well with their current roster. Only time will tell.