Liverpool's £50m centre-back 'target' may be forced to leave this summer

Liverpool target Murillo could be available at a discounted price this summer as financial complications could force Nottingham Forest to sell.

Having already been penalised for breaching profit and sustainability rules, Forest are in a similar boat to Everton and multiple other Premier League clubs and are likely to have to offload one of their star names to help balance the books. This could certainly benefit Liverpool who have been linked with a move for the Brazilian defender.

According to Football Insider, Forest may have to sanction player sales amid uncertainty around their profit and sustainability. And that could happen even quicker than most expect, with the report claiming they could sanction player sales by the 30 June, the date clubs must file their financial accounts, meaning several first-team stars could leave. The trio of Murillo, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White are listed as potential sales which will certainly attract suitors.

It’s written that Murillo has interest from across Europe and Liverpool are in the mix to sign the defender who was captured for £15m from Corinthians last summer. At least £20m is said to be required but with four years left on his current deal, a slightly higher fee may be negotiated and other sources suggest the club value him around £50m. The 21-year-old has been an ever-present in the side with 27 starts in the league and he’s also provided two assists across that time and has become a fan-favourite.

Possessing everything required in a modern-day centre-back, he has tremendous pace, power and is able to dribble past players as if he was a tricky winger. This was evident in multiple games and he caught the eye early on in his Forest-career away at Crystal Palace as he dribbled his way through from the half-way line to the edge of the box - nearly scoring one of the goals of the season. He’s also tried to catch keepers out from distance and gone close with free-kicks and he’s certainly a unique proposition in defence with a very sizeable potential.

With Joel Matip leaving in the summer at the end of his deal and a new manager coming in could influence any potential deals. The Reds have been linked with many a defensive recruit but none can do what Murillo does.