How Liverpool feel about signing Murillo as centre-back signs new deal with Nottingham Forest

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Liverpool look likely to be in the market for a new centre-back during 2025.

The Reds have not signed a central defender since Ibrahima Konate joined from RB Leipzig way back in 2021.

With Virgil van Dijk yet to sign a new contract and some question marks over Joe Gomez’s future, too, Liverpool need to address their defence.

Inevitably, this has led to plenty of transfer links being circulated, with Nottingham Forest’s Murillo one who has been regularly mentioned as a potential target.

Murillo was brilliant against Liverpool in the recent clash with Forest at the City Ground, with the Brazilian earning the man of the match award.

On the back of that performance, Murillo was backed to join Liverpool in the future as he takes the next step in his career. But as they reportedly continue to circle the 22-year-old, the Reds may have just been dealt a big transfer blow.

Murillo set to extend Nottingham Forest stay

Murillo has been an enormous part of Forest’s unprecedented season in the Premier League this term.

The former Corinthians youngster has started 21 of the 22 games Nuno Espirito Santo’s team have played. As Robbie Earle told NBC Sports last week, Murillo is a ‘powerful’ and ‘aggressive’ defender who could suit Liverpool.

Understandably, Forest have clearly been keen to head off any transfer interest Murillo’s good performances have attracted and tie his future down to the City Ground.

And according to The Daily Mail, that’s exactly what they have done. They claim that the centre-back has signed a new, four-year contract with Forest.

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Murillo still had more than three years to run on his current deal, but the new agreement is said to have come with a ‘hefty’ pay increase.

The extension arrives amid interest in Murillo, with The Mail interestingly reporting that Liverpool are ‘known admirers’ of the stopper.

Will new Murillo deal stop Liverpool interest?

While a new contract could feasibly be a blow to Liverpool’s chances of signing Murillo, there’s just as much chance that it makes little difference in the long run.

Bolstering his wages and tying him up for longer obviously strengthens Forest’s hand in any negotiations, that cannot be argued against. So, in that sense, this could damage the Reds’ chances.

However, Liverpool would still be able to comfortably better whatever Murillo’s current club are paying him if a transfer does come about.

The player himself would surely be attracted to the move and – who knows – perhaps there’s even a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ or a release clause which would allow Murillo to leave this summer.

In short, if Liverpool really do want the player, then this is unlikely to stop them.