Liverpool’s heavy spending in the transfer market last summer took the whole Premier League by surprise – especially after winning the title the year before.
The Reds splashed over £450m on new additions during the aforementioned window, with the vast majority of their spending spree going on new attackers.
Arne Slot’s side forked out a reported £235m for the signatures of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak – with the latter’s deal breaking the English transfer record.
However, the additions have failed to have the desired impact during 2025/26, with the club currently in fifth place and only fighting for a place in the Champions League.
The heavy spending may have been a shock to many, but the Reds look set once again to splash the cash and bolster the defensive unit regardless of where they finish this term.
Liverpool could have £70m bid accepted for defensive star
Over recent days, Liverpool have been named as just one of the clubs in the hunt to land Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde during the summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old is seen as one of Europe’s biggest defensive stars, with Slot’s side preparing for the eventuality of Andy Robertson departing Anfield during the off-season.
However, it’s unclear if the Spanish giants would allow the youngster to depart at present, with the Spaniard even having a £1b release clause in his contract.
The centre-back department is another area the hierarchy are seemingly aiming to improve during the summer, with Murillo the latest player to emerge on their shortlist.
According to TEAMtalk, the Nottingham Forest star is a player who’s hugely admired on Merseyside, which could lead to a potential move in the months ahead.
However, a potential transfer battle could well be on the cards, with Manchester United one other side who have already held talks to complete a deal for the Brazilian.
Any deal could well be an expensive one for the Reds, with Vitor Pereira’s side said to be ready to sell for a fee in the region of £70m, which would represent a club-record fee for the Tricky Trees.
Why Murillo would be Liverpool’s next Van Dijk
As previously mentioned, heavy spending hasn’t been alien to Liverpool in years gone by, with the centre-back department also an area that has been heavily bolstered.
Virgil van Dijk is just one player who’s been a part of the hierarchy’s heavy backing, subsequently joining in a £75m deal from Southampton back in January 2018.
At the time, such a deal was the most expensive for a defender in football history, but it’s a move that’s proved to be worth every penny given his success at Anfield.
The Dutchman has assumed the role of club captain, whilst also racking up a staggering 364 appearances for the Reds during his eight years on Merseyside.
He’s also lifted six major trophies during such a period, including two Premier League titles – undeniably being one of the best defenders to ever grace the division.
At 34, Van Dijk is undoubtedly entering the final years as a professional, with a move for Murillo allowing the club to land their next version of the fan-favourite.
The Brazilian would follow in the footsteps of the Dutchman in joining from a lower Premier League outfit, subsequently doing so whilst costing a pretty penny in the process.
Whilst the Forest star boasts a much smaller frame, he does possess numerous qualities similar to Van Dijk, which could see him be a huge hit with the fans on Merseyside.
The 23-year-old is an excellent ball-playing option, as seen with his tally of 85% passes completed this term – whilst ranking in the top 10% of defenders for long balls completed.
|
Murillo – PL stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
23 |
|
Goals & assists |
1 |
|
Pass accuracy |
85% |
|
Long balls completed |
3.6 |
|
Dribbles completed |
65% |
|
Interceptions made |
1.4 |
|
Clearances made |
5.5 |
|
Ball recoveries made |
4.4 |
His ability in possession is further highlighted with his 65% dribble success rate, which could see him perfectly fit into Liverpool’s possession-based system under Slot.
However, without the ball, he’s been just as dominant, as seen by his tally of 4.4 ball recoveries per 90 – also ranking him in the top 10% of players in the division.
His 1.4 interceptions and 5.5 clearances made per 90 add to his profile of being a superb ball-winner on the ground – with his small frame certainly being deceiving.
There’s no doubting Van Dijk is a level above that of Murillo, but the Brazilian is a player who could reach the next level upon any move to Anfield this summer.
He’s proved at Forest that he’s capable of rising to the big occasions, with the 23-year-old a player who’s built to thrive at the top level of European football.
£70m would be yet another statement of intent from the board, but it’s a deal that could allow the side to have yet another world-class central defender for many years to come.
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