Nottingham Forest FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League Luis Diaz of Liverpool, Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and Murillo of Nottingham Forest challenge during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at City Ground on January 14, 2025 in Nottingham, England. Nottingham City Ground England United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xRichardxSellers/Sportsphoto/APLx 14055929
Liverpool are yet to sign a first team star in the January transfer window despite the squad being stretched thin.
The club are in contention for all competitions as of this month. Liverpool are top of the Premier League as well as Champions League group phase. Slot’s men are through to the next round of the FA Cup, but will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit to make the League cup final.
The Reds struggled in the early weeks of January as they dropped points to Manchester United and Nottingham Forst. This has lead to fans and pundits alike calling for the club to bring in reinforcements in the January window.
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Liverpool however have to deal with current contract situations at Anfield. Virgil Van Dijk is yet to sign a new deal which means he could leave this summer. Liverpool have acted fast, offering a new contract to defender Ibrahima Konate, whose contract expires in 18 months. Keeping the French defender at Anfield long term is the plan for the near future.
The club would probably also be in the market for a dominant center back with experience in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest defender Murillo would have been an ideal target, but he is almost certainly off the table after signing a new deal with his club. The 22-year old has put pen to paper on a new four year deal at the City ground.
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher even pointed out the perfect profile of defender Liverpool would need to sign, a close description of how Murillo plays now:
“Liverpool need… I’ve said this for a long time, they need that left sided defender who can sort of do a little bit of both,” he said on the Stick to Football podcast.
“Stature, presence and just a bit more power.”
Forest are currently third place, six points off league leaders Liverpool. Murillo has been one of the standout performers at the club this season.
Will Murillo be an option to replace Van Dijk in the summer?
A new deal with Nottingham Forest will make a possible transfer in the summer more difficult, but the Brazilian defender has publicly stated that he is open to leaving to sign for a bigger club to step up in his career:
“I had the dream of playing in the Premier League and I had that thought,” he said on the Benja Me Mucho podcast.
“I thought, ‘I’ll go to Nottingham Forest, have a good year and then I’ll go to a big club.’
“I had that in my head. I’d choose Manchester City but it would be more difficult for me to be a regular starter given the players they have in their squad. There’s City, Arsenal as well who are fighting for the Premier League title. I wouldn’t discard Liverpool either. It would be a good opportunity for me to show my football in a big club.”
Liverpool would have to make a significant offer to sign Murillo in the event where Virgil Van Dijk departs the club in the summer.
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