Sources: Nottingham Forest to block ‘massive’ Chelsea player offer
Chelsea are set to be rebuked in their pursuit of Nottingham Forest star Murillo in January.
Football Insider revealed in September that Chelsea are working to sign a new centre-back, due to the array of injuries they’ve suffered this campaign.
One of their long-standing targets is Murillo who Chelsea have been monitoring since January 2025, to bolster their backline.
Murillo has been one of the players transformed by Sean Dyche’s arrival, with the Garibaldi keen to hold onto him in the upcoming transfer window.
‘No chance’ of deal happening in January for Murillo as Nottingham Forest to stand firm
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the Blues will face an uphill battle to sign the Brazilian.
Former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Chelsea are plotting a bid for Murillo in January in what would be a “massive” move.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast over Forest’s reluctance to part with their prized centre-back, I explained: “I would say there’s no chance of a deal happening in January.
“I don’t think Nottingham Forest would consider letting Murillo go midway through the season. He’s under a long-term contract until 2029.
“He was handed a new bumper deal last January just to ward off potential interest from other clubs, the likes of Chelsea and others.
“Chelsea, we know, centre-back maybe is an area of the team that is a bit weak. They have missed Levi Colwill this season due to injury and obviously they have had other players like Fofana who had his injury problems.
“So it is probably an area of the team that Enzo Maresca would like to strengthen, but I don’t see Forest letting Murillo go in January.”
Chelsea back to drawing board on hunt for centre-back with little headway made with Ronald Araujo
The Blues will likely be forced to wait until next summer to return for Murillo which will see them reconsider their defensive options in the January transfer window.
Sources told Football Insider back on 12 October that Ronald Araujo remains high on Chelsea’s watchlist, yet there has been little progress made on a deal.
Coincidentally, Araujo played for Barcelona against Chelsea in the Champions League on 25 November and was sent off, possibly putting Maresca partially off the centre-back.