‘I expect this is what Chelsea will pay to sign Murillo from Nottingham Forest’
Chelsea may have to pay Nottingham Forest up to £50million if they want to sign their defender Murillo.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, amid Chelsea’s interest in Murillo ahead of the January transfer window.
Chelsea have had bids rejected by Nottingham Forest for Murillo previously, as Enzo Maresca looks to bolster his defensive ranks.
Murillo was at the heart of Nottingham Forest‘s successful 2024-25 campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo in his second season at the City Ground, with injuries hampering him this campaign.
Murillo valued at £50m by Nottingham Forest
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Nottingham Forest will be holding out for £40m to £50m for the Brazilian.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Nottingham Forest will not let go of the 23-year-old easily.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, I think he’s going to be around the £50 million mark, which is what I’m looking at and assessing at the moment. I think that’s probably the top level they’re going to get.
“I expect it to be something like about £40m plus add-ons. But I think Forest are going to be asking for a closer to £50m. I don’t know if there’s a release clause, but if there is, it will be around that sort of level, high 40s at least. So that’s where I’d expect him to go at that sort of level.
“But Forest are not an easy selling club, and they’re trying to build something right now and they’re encouraged by recent results to some degree, so I think they’re going to do their best to keep him if they can.”
Chelsea star could make way for Murillo arrival
Chelsea‘s pursuit of Murillo may be down to the uncertain future of Wesley Fofana and the absence of Levi Colwill.
Fofana could be allowed to leave Chelsea, whilst Colwill is sidelined for the remainder of this campaign due to an ACL injury picked up in pre-season.
Maresca’s side though do not look to have urgent defensive issues, with the Blues having kept eight clean sheets in 17 Premier League matches this season.