Nottingham Forest defender Murillo has quickly become a fan favorite in his first year at the City Ground, surpassing expectations since his move last summer. The 22-year-old joined from Corinthians in a £15m deal, initially waiting for his chance under then-manager Steve Cooper before solidifying his spot in the first team.
Murillo has now started 33 consecutive Premier League games, underlining his importance to Forest and drawing interest from other English clubs during the current transfer window. Chelsea has been the most recent club linked with him, but Forest’s £70m valuation has cooled their interest.
Murillo’s success is just one example of Forest’s strong recruitment strategy, with another potential deal on the horizon in the coming days.
Nottingham Forest’s Search for a New Striker
Despite Chris Wood’s 14 Premier League goals last season and his opener against Bournemouth last weekend, Forest has been actively searching for a new striker. Santiago Gimenez was on their radar, with the club making two bids, but they seem to have shifted focus to other targets.
Eddie Nketiah is now the most likely candidate, with journalist David Ornstein confirming that the striker has agreed on personal terms with Forest. The club is also close to finalizing a fee with Arsenal for his transfer. Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta mentioned that Nketiah is training as usual and that his future remains open, depending on the right offer.
3ddie Nketiah 📞 pic.twitter.com/9uiyR8Gl6V
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 29, 2023
Nketiah would be a valuable addition to Nuno’s squad, potentially forming a strong partnership with another new signing before the transfer deadline next Friday.
Forest Eyeing £17m Talent
With rumors of new signing Jota Silva possibly going on loan to Olympiacos, Forest may be looking to add more attacking depth. Brazilian forward Wesley Gassova, who has previously attracted interest from Forest, could be a target in the coming days.
Wesley has been impressive at Corinthians, showing off his dribbling skills and creativity. His stats in Serie A this season include 4.9 progressive carries and 3.8 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, along with 1.8 key passes and 1.5 passes into the penalty area.
🇧🇷 Wesley Gassova (Corinthians, 19)
📊 vs Brazil Serie A wingers, 2024🥇 Attacking actions – 1st
🥇 Offensive duels – 1st
🥇 Progressive runs – 1st
🥈 Dribbles – 2nd
🥉 Crosses – 3rd
🏅 Accelerations – 4th
🏅 Fouls suffered – 5th98+ percentile among all wingers outside the… pic.twitter.com/6ebBp8xgmw
— DataMB (@DataMB_) July 15, 2024
These attributes could provide Nketiah with the support he needs to thrive at the City Ground. Wesley, priced at €20m (£17m), could be another success story from Corinthians, much like Murillo, and help strengthen Forest’s attacking options in the Premier League.
The young Brazilian has the potential to form a fruitful partnership with Nketiah, boosting Forest’s attacking threat as they aim for success this season.
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