Chelsea considers Murillo as the main candidate to bolster their defensive setup in January, with obvious challenges ahead to lure him from Nottingham Forest.

According to Football Insider, Murillo is Chelsea’s No.1 defensive target ahead of January, with the London side eager to lure the Brazilian centre-back to Stamford Bridge. Nottingham Forest will stand strong in the face of the challenge of losing their star defender, as the Blues are determined to try.

Chelsea have been superb of late with their performances, as Enzo Maresca has led them into second place so far in the Premier League table. The win over Burnley and the loss for Manchester City allowed the Blues to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to three points, but since the Gunners won their clash against Tottenham, the lead is currently six points.

They also had a sensational performance against Barcelona, which has reiterated the belief that Chelsea could compete for top honours this term. However, there are obvious deficiencies in the squad, particularly in the defensive department, as Chelsea are probably a centre-back short of mounting a concerted challenge for trophies this term.

Murillo is a name that has been sounded out for some time in the corridors of Chelsea, with the Brazilian defender being a subject of an approach last January. However, in light of Chelsea’s interest back then, the 23-year-old Premier League ace chose to sign a new contract with Nottingham Forest until 2029.

Hence, Forest will demand a significant fee and will certainly be in the driving seat regarding Murillo’s immediate and long-term future. There are a host of top teams angling for the Brazilian defender, but Sean Dyche is reluctant to lose his star players ahead of January.

Chelsea are prioritising Murillo’s signing

Chelsea have been interested in signing Murillo ahead of January, and they are now ready to push ahead with an approach for the 23-year-old Premier League ace. The idea would be to bring a left-footed centre-back to shore up their ranks at the back, and bring Murillo as a replacement for the injured Levi Colwill.

However, there will be difficulties in signing the player as Nottingham Forest will stand their ground to try and keep the 23-year-old Premier League ace. However, should the Brazilian push for a move, things could change in that regard, which may end up suiting Chelsea’s cause.