Now that Liverpool have appointed a new sporting director in former Bournemouth transfer chief Richard Hughes, who will start work at the end of the season, attention can turn to selecting a new manager. Xabi Alonso the former Liverpool midfielder is widely believed to be the No. 1 target for Fenway Sports Group.
But with any new manager unlikely to be appointed until late May, given Jurgen Klopp’s final match at the earliest will be the 19th and the latest the 22nd, the Reds will still be scouring for potential players to sign in the summer.
And the CEO of football operations Michael Edwards will be considering options who would suit an Alonso, or a Ruben Amorim. One of them is staring the Premier League giants straight in the face – and they’re already admirers of him.
That man is Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. The Brazilian only joined Forest last August for nearly £15million but since his switch from Sao Paulo-based Corinthians, Murillo has shone in the Premier League.
A left-footed centre-back, the 21-year-old has started all 23 league matches he’s been available for since joining. And while Forest sit in the relegation zone after a points deduction, Murillo has still been very impressive.
Murillo is a ball-playing defender capable of driving forward in possession thanks to an education in futsal. On top of his technical abilities and his mental quality – the way he sees the game – he also boasts a powerful physique and a turn of pace.
He has operated both as the left-sided centre-half in a back four and in a back three. And it is for that reason that he would appeal to both Alonso or Amorim.
Amorim has utilised a 3-4-3 or a 3-4-2-1 with Sporting this season while Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen have switched between a 3-4-2-1/3-4-3 and a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3. Liverpool do not have a single left-footed centre-back with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Jarell Quansah all strongest on their right.
With Matip potentially leaving upon the expiry of his contract this summer, Konate prone to injury and Van Dijk 33 in July, another centre-back option appears necessary. To give the new manager extra tactical flexibility, Murillo would be an excellent option.
And not just because of his ability and potential but because of Forest’s situation. Due to losing more money than they were permitted to by the Premier League’s financial regulations, Forest face needing to sell a key player at the end of the season.
They need to raise a minimum of £30m with Murillo one of the few players in the Tricky Trees’ squad who could realistically command such a price. The Daily Mail claim Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Newcastle, PSG and Chelsea are all monitoring his situation.
Forest will expect to get at least triple the £15m they paid, although the potential of bringing in £60m or more might by hampered by the fact they must raise the cash by June 30. Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham is another defender being looked at by Liverpool but he is also a right-footer, although he would be available on a free.
Thanks to the Premier League’s strict financial crackdown on clubs, Murillo might tick all of the boxes for Hughes, Edwards and co. this summer.
He is a signing Alonso would surely welcome if he is appointed, given his use of Piero Hincapie – another player who could offer the same versatility as Brazil’s Murillo although one who would be much more expensive.
As Liverpool begin for life after Jurgen Klopp, the signing of a young Premier League proven defender Murillo at what is likely to be a reasonable market rate feels like the perfect opportunity for them. You could easily see how the player would only improve under Alonso’s tutelage.
