Defence is the next area set to be overhauled by Man Utd next summer, and a defender who blocks twice as many shots as Harry Maguire is emerging as a strong contender.
Three of the four first-team players in Man Utd’s defence are on expiring contracts – Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw.
Martinez has a club option to extend by a year, but both Maguire and Shaw could well be playing their last season at Old Trafford.
The defensive overhaul could be headlined by a Brazilian star who is more active than penalty-box specialist Maguire when it comes to blocking shots.
Man Utd interested in Murillo
The Premier League-proven philosophy of Ineos saw them sign three midfielders from the league this summer, and two attackers last summer.
That looks set to continue next summer as they zero in on Nottingham Forest’s Brazilian defender, Murillo.
Murillo has been ever-present for Forest since signing from Corinthians in 2023, making 97 appearances during this time and marshalling the backline with gusto.
He even made his international debut during this time, and at 24, his best days are in front of him, something that makes him a very appealing target for elite clubs.
Flashscore report that Man Utd are among the clubs very interested in Murillo, along with Chelsea and Liverpool, but a deal is expected to be tricky.
Having survived relegation last season, Forest are under no pressure to sell, and their price for Elliot Anderson shows they are tough negotiators.
Murillo also signed an extension recently, so United will need to assess the parameters of a deal quickly and make, or reject, making a move.
Murillo is a penalty-box specialist like Harry Maguire
Murillo is good on the ball and is a threat on set pieces, but what makes him formidable is his ability to defend his own box.
He blocks 1.04 shots/90, a figure that puts him in the 87th percentile of all defenders across top-five leagues, and more than twice that of Maguire, who is in the 41st percentile.
He recovers the ball more often, his defensive actions add more value to the team, and he has gone from strength to strength in a side often struggling to string wins together.
Add to that being proven in the Premier League, his age, and his playing profile, and it all comes together to make the perfect package.
The transfer fee is the only potential stumbling block to the move, but if that sorts itself out, then Murillo becomes a no-brainer addition.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/RQ4pehK