- Manchester United are keeping tabs on Brazilian centre-back
- Norringham Forest defender could command a fee of up to £70 million
- United are looking to reinforce their defence ahead of next season
Manchester United have reportedly added Nottingham Forest defender Murillo to their shortlist along with Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven. While the centre-back position arguably stands as the strongest area within the squad, United have navigated a minor injury scare over the past week.
Ayden Heaven earned plaudits after a commanding display helped United secure a 1-0 victory in a must-win clash against Chelsea. The 19-year-old operated alongside right-back Noussair Mazraoui in central defence, shouldering the bulk of the responsibility throughout the contest.
It arrives at a moment where injuries and suspensions have begun to expose vulnerabilities within the squad.
Manchester United Eyeing Murillo
According to James Ducker of The Telegraph, United have continued to monitor both Van de Ven and Murillo.
With both players currently embroiled in a relegation battle, United could position themselves to capitalise on a reduced valuation.
Ducker noted that “background checks” have been conducted on several left-footed centre-backs, with Murillo and Van de Ven emerging as prominent candidates within that assessment.
Van de Ven feels an obvious target but Murillo is an interest option for the Reds. The Brazilian has been a rock for Forest, a standout performer ever since the Tricky Trees were promoted back in 2022.
The 23-year-old has appeared 25 times in the league this season and has formed a fine partnership with Nikola Milenkovic. Of the two centre-backs on United’s radar, he is likely to be the least expensive, especially if Vitor Pereira’s side are relegated.
Relegation could suppress both of their market values, yet it would simultaneously heighten demand, with multiple clubs likely to view them as opportunistic acquisitions.
With Matthijs de Ligt sidelined for just under five months and Lisandro Martinez continuing to battle recurring injury concerns, reliance on the likes of Heaven, Leny Yoro, and Harry Maguire may not provide sufficient depth across a demanding schedule.
With Maguire advancing in age—and Yoro and Heaven combining for just 39 years—structural uncertainty lingers at the heart of defence.
READ: Latest Manchester United Transfer News
Do Man United Need Defensive Reinforcements?
As outlined, the centre-back position is currently one of the squad’s strongest areas.
Despite this, the United hierarchy views this position as ‘well-stocked’, yet still intends to layer in additional depth ahead of next season’s Champions League—provided Manchester United secure qualification.
With the 2026/27 campaign rapidly approaching, United will face a significantly heavier workload compared to this season.
Should United qualify for the Champions League and progress to the quarter-finals of every cup competition—while navigating the knockout phase play-offs in the Champions League—they would play 59 matches next season, an increase of 19 compared to this campaign.
With a World Cup taking place this summer, United must reinforce decisively to ensure sufficient depth across every position for effective rotation.
While United arguably possess enough centre-back options on paper, persistent concerns around injuries and fitness continue to push the hierarchy towards exploring further reinforcements.
