{"id":3313,"date":"2026-03-12T17:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=3313"},"modified":"2026-03-12T17:05:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:05:27","slug":"man-utd-eyeing-70m-premier-league-star-after-changing-transfer-stance-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=3313","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd eyeing \u00a370m Premier League star after changing transfer stance | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Wolverhampton\t<\/div>
Manchester United are reportedly drawing up a shortlist of centre-back targets (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Manchester United have been forced to rethink their plans following injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez and work is underway to address the issue in the summer transfer market.<\/p>\n

De Ligt had initially been expected to return from his mysterious back problem before the turn of the year, but \u2013 three-and-a-half months on \u2013 there are no signs of the Netherlands international making an imminent comeback.<\/p>\n

In De Ligt\u2019s absence, Martinez was an ever-present in Michael Carrick\u2019s phenomenal start as interim manager, playing every single minute of United\u2019s wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham.<\/p>\n

But the Argentine has been sidelined with a calf injury since the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw with West Ham, with Leny Yoro slotting in alongside Harry Maguire for the side\u2019s last three games. <\/p>\n

There had been hopes that Martinez could shake off the problem in time for United\u2019s encounter with fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa this weekend. <\/p>\n

Martinez suffered a slight reaction when back out on the training ground at Carrington, though, and is now expected to play no part in Sunday\u2019s crunch match at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

While Martinez\u2019s injury setback is not deemed to be overly serious, United are keen to avoid rushing the 28-year-old back into the fold before he has returned to full fitness.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Crystal\t<\/div>
Martinez and De Ligt have both struggled with injuries at United (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Murillo is on United\u2019s radar as a potential solution this summer (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If he is ruled out of this weekend\u2019s contest, it will mean Martinez will have missed a total of 95 matches through injury since arriving from Ajax in 2022.<\/p>\n

According to the i, United have begun to draw up a shortlist of centre-backs with a view to providing \u2018more reliable cover\u2019 at the heart of their defence next season.<\/p>\n

Strengthening at centre-back had not initially been deemed a priority at the Theatre of Dreams, but club bosses have altered their stance as a result of their frequent and ongoing injury woes.<\/p>\n

While United\u2019s search remains in its early stages, Nottingham Forest\u2019s Murillo has become a player of interest \u2013 with the Brazilian\u2019s experience in the Premier League viewed as a major plus by INEOS.<\/p>\n

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Murillo put pen to paper on a new contract at Forest in January 2025, tying him to the club until 2029, and is not actively seeking an escape route out of the City Ground as it stands.<\/p>\n

However, this could change if relegation-threatened Forest lose their fight for Premier League survival this season.<\/p>\n

Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have also been credited with an interest in Murillo and are believed to be keeping close tabs on the situation from afar in the event that the 23-year-old does agitate for a switch.<\/p>\n

Forest will be demanding a fee in excess of \u00a370million for Murillo when the summer transfer window opens for business.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Nottingham\t<\/div>
Forest have reportedly slapped a \u00a370m price tag on the Brazil defender (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vitor Pereira\u2019s side stand to make a tidy profit on Murillo given they signed the centre-half for around \u00a315m only three years ago.<\/p>\n

Murillo has made 104 appearances in all competitions for Forest since arriving from Corinthians and was named the club\u2019s player of the season after a stellar debut year.<\/p>\n

And while Forest have endured an immensely disappointing campaign, Murillo\u2019s stock is still high and his reputation as one of the finest young centre-backs in English remains intact.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Murillo is tied into a contract at the City Ground until 2029 (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the past,\u00a0Murillo has made no secret of his \u2018dream\u2019 to one day play Champions League football\u00a0and compete for major silverware at the highest level.<\/p>\n

Murillo also confirmed that he had been the subject of \u2018interest\u2019 from Chelsea in 2024.<\/p>\n

But at the time, the ex-Corinthians man \u2013 who has been capped once by Brazil \u2013 opted to turn down a proposed move to Stamford Bridge to continue his development with Forest.<\/p>\n

\u2018I had the dream of playing in the Premier League,\u2019 he told the Benja Me Mucho podcast.<\/p>\n

\u2018I thought: \u201cI\u2019ll go to Nottingham Forest, have a good year and then I\u2019ll go to a big club\u201d, I had that in my head.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Is Forest defender Murillo worth \u00a370m?<\/h3>\n
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