Liverpool are closing in on agreeing on a new deal with Virgil van Dijk but the club’s plans of signing a top-class centre-back next summer remain unchanged.
Van Dijk is expected to pen a new deal with the Reds soon but Liverpool are keen to ensure they secure his long-term replacement while the Dutchman is still at Anfield.
Liverpool have been keeping tabs on several centre-backs across Europe and the Premier League as they continue to assess their options ahead of next summer.
Sevilla’s Loic Bade and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi are some of the players who are on Liverpool’s shortlist of targets as they continue to strategise on which defender to go for.
However, there is one name that has been rapidly gaining traction in the recruitment meetings at Anfield as Liverpool push to try and settle down on a top target for next summer.
Move for the top defensive target would be expensive
Nottingham Forest defender Murillo has made a massive impression on the Liverpool scouts who have been keeping tabs on his performances.
Liverpool’s recruitment team have been left mesmerised by the Brazilian defender and he is now being seen as the long-term successor to Van Dijk at Anfield.
Liverpool are preparing to make a move for him in the next summer transfer window and signing him would be an expensive adventure.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have their eyes on him and Forest are keen to ensure that they get a massive fee before agreeing to sell Murillo next summer.
According to the Daily Mail, the East Midlands club are set to ask as much as £80m before agreeing to let the defender leave the City Ground.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
That fee would surpass the £75m Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk in 2018 and the Dutchman has turned out to be a modern great at Anfield.
Liverpool are known for being careful in the market and do not have a penchant for paying big fees in the market.
The club have shown that they won’t shy away from spending the big bucks if they really believe that a player would be a game-changing signing.
It remains to be seen whether the Reds see Murillo as the player who is worth spending a record fee on.
