Chelsea retain interest in £70m Premier League “powerhouse”

CChelsea are finally seeing progress under Enzo Maresca and will be delighted with their well-fought win over Barcelona this week.

The Blues climbed into the top eight of the Champions League table when they beat the European giants 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

In the Premier League, Chelsea are also working hard to be part of the title race conversation after knocking Manchester City out of second place with their win over Burnley.

Maresca has struggled with inconsistencies within his squad during his tenure so far, but after winning the Club World Cup this summer, he has shown that he is starting to iron out issues and deliver consistent results.

Indeed, there have been consequences following their summer success over Paris Saint-Germain in the USA, as injuries have been piling up over the opening months of the season.

The defence has been one of the worst-hit areas of the squad – Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo have only recently recovered from injuries, while Levi Colwill suffered an ACL injury, a massive blow.

The England international has undergone surgery after sustaining a long-term issue during pre-season, and he is not expected to return until next season.

As a result, there is definitely room for improvement in defensive reinforcements at the West London club, and Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for Nottingham Forest star Murillo ahead of the January transfer window.

According to TEAMtalk, the Blues retain their interest in the Brazilian defender, who has gone from strength to strength since his move to the City Ground.

The publication claims that Chelsea have no intention of splashing the cash when the transfer window opens, but Maresca is keen to add a new centre-back if possible.

TEAMtalk transfer insider Dean Jones revealed:

“I do believe Chelsea have an interest in Murillo, but Forest made a very smart move by signing him onto a new contract at the start of the year and, in line with that, he’s going to be priced appropriately.

“There’s no chance of Chelsea getting a good deal on a player Forest don’t want to lose, who is tied up [by his contract] until 2029.”

It is further noted that Forest will command a fee of around £70m to part ways with their top defender.

There is no doubt that adding a centre-back to the squad in January would put Chelsea in an advantageous position as they attempt to compete with Arsenal and Manchester City domestically, while progressing in the Champions League.

Colwill’s absence has left them thin at the back, especially if more injury issues were to occur over the coming weeks and months, so adding experience and reliability would give them the security needed to kick on in the second half of the season.

The 23-year-old – once hailed a “powerhouse” by BBC Sport pundit Troy Deeney – is one of the most talked-about defenders in the Premier League after joining Forest for just £15m back in 2023.

Under Nuno Espirito Santo, Murillo was one of the standout performers in the Tricky Trees’ rise up the Premier League, finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League last season.

As a result, it makes sense that Forest are not keen on parting ways with their talented defender, so Chelsea would need to table an attractive bid if they are to make a move in the January window.

Whether Chelsea are willing to meet Forest’s financial demands remains to be seen, but a move for Murillo could prove a decisive step in strengthening their ambitions for the rest of their campaign.

Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism.

Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting.

Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.