Sources: Liverpool's four-man defender shortlist revealed
Nico Schlotterbeck remains a top defensive target for Liverpool despite signing a new Borussia Dortmund contract, sources have told Football Insider.
Schlotterbeck is one of four players on the Reds' shortlist at centre-back as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez edge towards the end of their contracts next summer.
Nottingham Forest star Murillo is also admired by Liverpool chiefs, as are Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni and Barcelona's Jules Kounde.
Liverpool are set to enter the market for a new centre-back in the next two transfer windows, having explored a move for Schlotterbeck in the summer.
The German international signed a new deal with Dortmund earlier in the year, but as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, Liverpool have kept him on their shortlist along with Murillo, Bastoni and Kounde.
They are likely to keep Ronald Araujo permanently after his loan spell, but his long-term future under Andoni Iraola could lie at right-back.
Liverpool set sights on numerous top centre-backs ahead of 2027
Schlotterbeck has impressed at Dortmund over several seasons now, while Murillo is a key player for Forest and has numerous years of PL experience.
Bastoni is a regular starter for Inter but is out of contract in 2028, and French international Kounde was linked away from Barcelona in the summer and has struggled to nail down a starting spot this season.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "Nico Schlotterbeck is a long-term target, the Borussia Dortmund and Germany centre-back who was linked with the move to Liverpool last summer. He signed a new deal but I'm sure is a player who is still on their radar.
"Then you've got the likes of Murillo at Forest, he is another player that Liverpool have looked at. I'm sure there'll be other potential targets as well.
"Bastoni at Inter Milan is a player that's been a long-term target for the Reds, and then Jules Kounde as well at Barcelona, although he's played right back primarily for them, he can also play at centre-back, and his future at Camp Nou is uncertain."
Liverpool will have to pay huge fee for Alex Scott
Bournemouth midfielder Scott has emerged onto the Reds' radar this year and he could leave the Vitality Stadium in the next transfer window.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Liverpool will have to pay in excess of £100million for Scott as his stock rises sharply this season.
The 23-year-old shone last term under Iraola and has continued to be a key man in this campaign, winning his first England cap last month off the back of his strong form.