(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Sat 18 April 2026 19:00, UK

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Nottingham Forest should be ready to lower their guard when it comes to their bid to keep hold of key centre-back Murillo this summer.

The Brazilian has attracted strong interest from the Premier League’s elite in the form of Liverpool and Chelsea, and it appears increasingly likely that he is nearing the end of his time at the City Ground.

The Reds have worked hard to fend off interest in the 23-year-old in recent transfer windows, but they should now be ready to cash in as Jair Cunha continues to prove himself as a capable successor.

Murillo’s countryman has had to bide his time to wait for his opportunities since his arrival last summer, but he is now proving why the club were so keen to sign him.

Forest intend to strengthen their squad again this summer, and the cash that a sale of Murillo would generate could prove invaluable to their bid to pull away from the relegation zone next term.

Jair Cunha bests Murillo as Porto display changes everything

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider back in March that it is becoming increasingly “difficult” for Forest to keep Murillo even if they avoid relegation, given the interest that is building.

At this point, the East Midlands outfit may be better served by embracing the fact that a sale is almost inevitable and focusing their attention on trying to secure as much money as possible.

The blow of Murillo’s likely departure will be softened by the way that Cunha has performed in recent weeks.

He notched six defensive contributions in just his second Premier League start in the 2-2 draw away at Manchester City last month, while he played a central role in the 1-0 win over Porto on Thursday night.

The 20-year-old’s stats in that game saw him best Murillo’s averages across the league season in several different departments, highlighting the fact that he is ready for a bigger role in the team next term.

The fact that he performed so well against a perennial European side in Porto also indicates that Vitor Pereira should have no concerns about throwing him in at the deep end against top clubs in the league.

Murillo has been an excellent option for Forest in recent seasons, but with Cunha a natural successor in his role, owner Evangelos Marinakis may be tempted to cash in and spend the money elsewhere.

How much would it take for Forest to sell Murillo?

Former Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider back in December that Chelsea needed up to £50million to sign Murillo during the January window, and similar money is sure to be necessary again this summer.

The former Corinthians man is under contract at the City Ground until 2029, meaning that the Reds are still under pressure to sanction a sale for anything less than a premium price.

The only way that could change ahead of next season is if Pereira’s men suffer relegation to the Championship, but that has appeared increasingly unlikely since they demolished Tottenham at the end of March.

Murillo has been established as one of Forest’s most saleable assets for several windows now, but this could finally be the one where they decide to give in.