Murillo’s successor: Forest poised to swoop for another Brazilian sensation

The Reds are seeking a replacement in case Murillo leaves the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest’s financial issues have been evident recently, resulting in a four-point deduction for breaking Premier League PSR rules.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis’s spending spree to avoid relegation backfired, with the club overspending by £34.5m for the 2022/23 financial year. Even after selling academy graduate Brennan Johnson to Tottenham Hotspur for £47.5m, the timing meant the sale didn’t offset the overspending.

To rectify their financial situation, Forest needs to raise at least £20m before June 30, with Murillo linked to £60-70m moves to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. However, fans shouldn’t worry as the club is targeting another Brazilian centre-back to replace Murillo if he departs.

According to Revista Colorada via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest is set to hijack West Ham United’s deal for Brazilian centre-back Vitão from Internacional.

The 24-year-old, valued at £5.9m, has attracted interest from West Ham, but Forest could offer a higher bid and better wages to lure him to the East Midlands.

INACREDITÁVEL! 😮

Juventude teve uma grande chance de abrir o placar, mas o chute do Edson Carioca beijou a trave, correu por cima da linha e foi cortado pelo Vitão!#Premiere #CampeonatoGaucho #Internacional #Juventude #GauchaoNoPremiere pic.twitter.com/X69pr6Rl3f

— Premiere (@canalpremiere) March 26, 2024

Despite not wanting to lose Murillo after his Player of the Season campaign, Vitão could be an excellent replacement.

Both players have similar stats, with Murillo excelling in progressive carries but Vitão showing better pass completion. Vitão’s long pass accuracy is 5% higher than Murillo’s, despite playing in different quality divisions.

Vitão vs. Murillo (2023/24 Stats via FBref):

– Progressive carries: Vitão 13, Murillo 22
– Pass accuracy: Vitão 85%, Murillo 77%
– Tackles won: Vitão 50%, Murillo 58%
– Long pass accuracy: Vitão 52%, Murillo 47%
– Shots per 90: Vitão 0.8, Murillo 0.6

Vitão has been praised as the “future of Brazilian football” and could fill the void left by Murillo, significantly boosting Forest’s financial position.

Any deal for Murillo would be phenomenal, given the club only paid £15m for him last summer, and Vitão would be a cost-effective replacement ready to make an impact in the Premier League.