Liverpool could pay Virgil van Dijk money for ‘one of the best young defenders in Europe’

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With another pause in the club football season now in progress, transfer talk is set to be on the agenda for Liverpool.

The Reds have been superb under Arne Slot so far this campaign, setting themselves up nicely for a title challenge.

And as Arsenal and Manchester City scramble to keep up with Liverpool, there’s a feeling that the Reds could hammer home an advantage during the January transfer market.

The window opens in just six weeks or so, and if Liverpool can plug one or two gaps with new additions then they might just become serious favourites for the league title.

The Reds have plenty of form for doing business in the New Year. Current captain Virgil van Dijk is perhaps the best example of how transformative a mid-season signing can be.

And as Liverpool continue to look for a new centre-back to replicate Van Dijk’s impact, they could potentially be prepared to shell out a similar fee to the £75m they paid for the Dutchman in 2018.

Liverpool eyeing Murillo deal

Liverpool’s record of only six goals conceded in 11 Premier League matches so far this season suggests that they do not need to change the partnership of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

However, with the captain now 33 and with question marks over his future, Liverpool do need to start putting together a succession plan.

The team with the second best record in England’s top division this season has surprisingly been Nottingham Forest.

And according to journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are well ‘aware’ of the qualities of a defender who has been right at the heart of that: Brazilian centre-back Murillo. However, the 22-year-old will not come cheap.

READ MORE: Gary Lineker says what he’s ‘heard’ about Liverpool trying to sign Murillo from Nottingham Forest

“Murillo’s a player Liverpool are well aware of but my understanding is that Forest think of him as one of the best young defenders in Europe,” Bailey exclusively tells Rousing The Kop.

“He’s just been called up by Brazil as well so that backs that up.

“We’re talking £60-70m for Murillo but as Liverpool did for Van Dijk, if the right player’s there then they’ll pay for it, and Murillo’s got age on his side.”

Is Murillo worth the money?

Murillo is clearly a very good defender. Having already proven himself in the Premier League last season, the Brazilian has gone up a level in 2024/25.

Given how much he has already improved, you can understand why Liverpool might be starting to feel he has the tools to be a long-term starter for them.

However, the Liverpool owners are very data-driven when it comes to recruitment. And judging by the statistics, Murillo does not really add up to a £70m player.

The former Corinthians starlet has won just 50.7% of his duels per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, which is something we already know Arne Sot places a lot of emphasis in.

With 55% of aerial duels won and a 61.5% per cent tackle success rate, Murillo scores relatively low compared to his peers in the division, and indeed to someone like Ibrahima Konate who scores 73.4%, 82.4% and 69.2% in these three parameters respectively.