Man Utd target Nottingham Forest star Murillo after new injury blow

Robin Bairner

• 12 Mar 2026 04:30 CDT
• 4 min read

News

Manchester United have reacted to news of Lisandro Martinez’s latest injury setback by drawing up a list of summer centre-back targets that is headlined by Nottingham Forest’s Murillo, a player who would offer an instant upgrade on anything the Red Devils already have.

Martinez has missed recent games with a calf problem, following on from an ACL injury that he suffered last season. There is uncertainty over when the Argentine will return.

Combined with Matthijs de Ligt still being on the sidelines, interim boss Michael Carrick is short of options in the middle of his defence.

Although Carrick is not certain to still oversee the Red Devils when next season starts, Man Utd bosses are looking at solutions in the transfer market, The i Paper reports.

Man Utd put Murillo top of transfer shortlist

Nottingham Forest’s Murillo is Man Utd’s top option ahead of the summer window, with the mentality of the 23-year-old Brazilian particularly admired behind the scenes at Old Trafford.

Murillo is seen as the “perfect blend” of youth and Premier League experience and follows the same type of logic that saw the Red Devils snap up Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford respectively in 2025 – deals that have proven an undoubted success.

It is added that the former Corinthians players is seen as “the type of player who can handle the big stage, without the baggage that comes with more marquee names”.

Murillo would likely move for a similar price to Cunha and Mbeumo, with the central defender boasting an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €65.5 million – a figure that Forest will likely try to drive up.

Murillo’s stance on a move

Nottingham Forest are currently embroiled in a relegation battle from the Premier League, but that has not prompted Murillo to seek a move away from the City Ground, the report claims.

There is a sense, though, that if a club like Man Utd were to approach Forest in the summer, he could be tempted into a move.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also said to be monitoring his progress, so United are unlikely to get a free run at the player.

An instant upgrade

Murillo would provide an instant upgrade in the middle of Man Utd’s defence, according to data analytics firm SciSports.

The experts report that Murillo is already playing at a higher standard than any other centre-back on Man Utd’s books. This is based on his SciSkill measurement, which is calculated using hundreds of in-game data points.

He is seen as a player who is similar in style to Man Utd’s other major central defensive options, De Ligt, Leny Yoro and Maguire, fuelling suggestions that he is a strong fit for the club.

Indeed, with the England centre-back out of contract in the summer, he could replace him in the hierarchy. Even if Maguire stays on a reduced deal, as has been previously suggested, Murillo would provide an upgrade in terms of a first-choice option.

Murillo to Man Utd is a logical move

Man Utd’s interest in Murillo therefore makes a good deal of sense.

It’s a deal that’s follows in the pattern of the Mbeumo and Cunha moves from last summer that have been an undoubted success, both in terms of the likely transfer fee and the Premier League profile of the player.

And Murillo’s attributes are similar to – but an upgrade on – what’s already available at Old Trafford.

Now the hard part will be beating off interest from their rivals to get a deal done.

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