Liverpool identifies Virgil van Dijk’s successor following contract offer rejection by the Dutch defender.
Liverpool may need to act in the transfer market before the 2025/26 season, following Virgil van Dijk’s rejection of their initial contract proposal.
Alongside Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Dutch defender’s contract expires in the summer of 2025, allowing him to negotiate with clubs outside England in less than a month.
Time is of the essence for Liverpool to secure a new deal with the 33-year-old, yet negotiations are currently stalled. Consequently, a leading center-back replacement is being considered at Anfield.
Liverpool to target Murillo as Van Dijk replacement
As reported by The Athletic, Liverpool is significantly off from meeting Van Dijk’s demands regarding both the contract’s value and the duration of the extension.
Consequently, they have been scouting potential replacements across Europe for next season’s defense, but have zeroed in on a target much closer to home. In November, Gary Lineker shared on The Rest is Football podcast that Liverpool is keen to secure Murillo from Nottingham Forest, having been particularly impressed by the Brazilian’s performances in the Premier League.
Since his arrival at Forest from Corinthians in August 2023, Murillo has made a mark in the defense with his impressive passing ability and leadership skills. At just 22 years old, he still has significant room for growth, but he won’t come at a bargain price.
Although Transfermarkt estimates Murillo’s value at about £35m, Nottingham Forest is likely to demand at least double that amount if they decide to sell their key player either in January or the following summer. With his contract running through 2028, there is no immediate urgency for the club to offload the Brazilian.
Liverpool will also contend with fierce competition for his signature, as top European clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing him for potential transfers in the near future.
In the view of eScored, Liverpool’s pursuit of Murillo makes perfect sense. He is young yet experienced in the Premier League, and his left-footedness aligns with what many top managers seek as they prefer defenders who play on their natural side for starting plays from the back.
