Liverpool and Chelsea are the frontrunners to sign one of the Premier League’s finest defenders, having ‘done more groundwork’ than any other potential suitor.
Arne Slot is already expecting the arrival of France Under-21 international Jeremy Jacquet in the summer after agreeing a £60 million deal in the winter transfer window.
But the Dutch manager appears to be keen on adding further to his depleted defensive ranks. The Reds have been crying out for central defenders in recent seasons.
Reds going head-to-head with Chelsea for another defender
According to TEAMtalk transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool and Chelsea have done the most work when it comes to Nottingham Forest defender Murillo Santiago Costa.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham all hold an interest in the Brazilian, but are further behind in the race.
Murillo, a left-footed defender, can play at the heart of the backline or in a left-back role. His marauding runs forward have become one of the most exciting sights at The City Ground in recent years.
Murillo’s Nottingham Forest statistics (2025/26):
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
| Premier League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1,551 |
| Europa League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 285 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Total | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1,859 |
The report claims that Forest are fully aware that the 23-year-old wants to ‘take the next step’, but it’ll take a lot to prise him away from Evangelos Marinakis.
The Midlands club are said to have slapped a £50 million price tag on Murillo’s head.
Liverpool’s defensive options
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have been required to play every single game they are available for this season. In part down to poor planning by Liverpool, but also due to injuries.
The former is 34 years old with less than 18 months on his £350,000-per-week contract. Meanwhile, Konate’s future is far from certain, as he’s strongly linked with a free transfer away this summer.
Young Italian Giovanni Leoni was brought in from Parma as a back-up option last summer and impressed on his debut in the EFL Cup against Southampton.
Unfortunately, the 19-year-old was stretchered off the pitch with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He’s been absent ever since and is unlikely to play again this season.
Joe Gomez, an extremely solid centre-back on his day, has suffered from several fitness problems this campaign and has had to cover at right-back due to more injury issues in the Liverpool squad.
Murillo, along with the incoming Jacquet, could provide some much-needed quality depth in Slot’s squad.
Andy Robertson is out of contract in June, meaning the ability to cover at left-back could be vital.
Slot was disappointed at missing out on defender
Before the summer transfer window shut, Liverpool looked like they were going to welcome Marc Guehi. The England international went through his medical with the Reds on deadline day, but all parties ran out of time.
Speaking in early September after the failed transfer, Slot admitted it was a ‘pity’ that the Reds missed out.
“I think it would be a bit ridiculous if I deny that we were close to signing him. It was so out in the open it would be ridiculous,” Slot said.
Marc Guehi’s Premier League statistics (2025/26):
| Metric | Crystal Palace | Manchester City | Total |
| Appearances | 20 | 4 | 24 |
| Goals | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Assists | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Clean Sheets | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Minutes | 1,800 | 360 | 2,160 |
The Dutchman added: “This can happen. We would have liked to sign him, of course, because we were in for him. It’s a pity, not only for us but also for the player.”
Since then, the ball-playing defender has moved to Premier League title rivals Manchester City. Murillo is a younger and more versatile option.
