Nottingham Forest deadline will see Liverpool sign ‘prolific’ defender before June 30

Nottingham Forest’s recent financial troubles could benefit Liverpool’s pursuit of one of their best players.

Forest’s focus now shifts to financial issues, notably the need to balance the books by June 30. The summer transfer window does not open until June 14, but to prevent exceeding spending limits and incurring a points deduction the next season, they must collect funds through sales, according to iPaper’s Sam Cunningham.

Forest will be anxious to avoid repeating the same mistake, having previously received a four-point deduction for doing so last season. And June 30 is officially recognized as a ceremonial date for clubs, while ‘profitability and sustainability rules’ day is just over a month away. Murillo, a centre-back, may be an easy move for Forest considering his performances and current interest.

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said ESPN Brasil about the defender: “Murillo has a lot of quality.” He’s a speedy defender with a good build, but I don’t simply focus on the positives. It’s best not to modify what’s already good and instead aim to improve it. He still has to work on several parts of his game. We must not forget that a defender’s first responsibility is to protect.”

Previously connected with Liverpool, the 21-year-old Brazilian had a fine debut season in England, impressing at times with his mazy dribbles from the midway line and long-range strikes. While there is no doubt about his technical talent, he also shown defensive capability, even if there is room for growth. He’s also quick, strong, and willing to put his body on the line, and if Liverpool wants to bring in a defender with a lot of promise to replace Joel Matip, Murillo could be the one.

According to previous rumors, Liverpool was interested in him before he arrived to Forest, and they have kept a watch on him throughout the season. While his statistics aren’t as outstanding as other targets, the eye test reveals a guy with a lot of promise who might be developed into a very excellent defense with time. He has a good clearing rate per game, a low ‘dribbled past’ figure (0.4), and covers a lot of territory in a left-side position.

Forest’s team includes notable stars like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White, but the defender is the only one connected with a move to Anfield. It would be a daring move, but given the club’s desire to sell, Liverpool may see him as a bargain risk worth taking.