Nottingham Forest’s Murillo sends clear transfer message to Manchester City amid Chelsea links | OneFootball

Manchester City have been sent a very clear transfer message by Nottingham Forest’s Brazilian centre-back Murillo amid recent links to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Etihad Stadium transfer bosses are unlikely to enter the market this summer for a central defender, with the understanding being that club staff are confident in the array of players currently available in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Most recently, the Premier League champions were linked with an admiration and subsequent interest in Everton and England international Jarrad Branthwaite, following a meteoric rise in the game since his development away from Carlisle United.

However, the club themselves have been swift to deny such a suggestion, instead pointing towards their current options as reasons why they would not explore a move; Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake.

But one player has taken transfer talk to a new level this summer, firmly naming the reigning Premier League champions as his ideal club to join if he had to move elsewhere in the English top-flight.

Speaking to journalist Benjamin Back for his ‘Benja Me Mucho’ YouTube channel, as translated and relayed by Nottinghamshire Live, Nottingham Forest’s Murillo offered a very clear answer when quizzed on what other Premier League club he would want to play for.

“I’d choose Manchester City but it would be more difficult for me to be a regular starter given the players they have in their squad,” the 21-year-old admitted. “There’s City, Arsenal as well, who are fighting for the Premier League title.”

He continued, “I wouldn’t discard Liverpool either, it would be a good opportunity for me to show my football in a big club.”

Offering some thoughts on what could happen in relation to his future this summer, amid links to Chelsea, the Brazilian explained, “We don’t know anything for certain, the window opened last month so I’m going to return to Nottingham Forest for pre-season.

“There might be some discussions on whether I’ll stay or not so there’s a lot of things to happen still but I’m relaxed.”

Reports earlier this summer had revealed that Chelsea had registered interest in Murillo, who had been emerging as a target for newly-appointed Stamford Bridge head coach Enzo Maresca, with the player rated at around £70 million by the Nottingham Forest hierarchy.

Since then, there has been little to no movement on the player’s future, whilst Juventus were also pulled into the race by some sources, as the Italian giants continue a busy recruitment policy during the ongoing window and ahead of the new season.