Premier League club rejected January approach from Chelsea for key man, would have been club record sale | OneFootball

Chelsea were targeting a swoop for Nottingham Forest centre back Murillo early in January, but their approach was rejected according to reports.

The transfer window closed at 11pm on Monday night, with Chelsea’s only arrival the deadline day signing of teenage midfielder Mathis Amougou from St Etienne.

The Blues did manage to finalise four departures with Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka all leaving on loan for the second half of the season.

Chelsea targeted January Murillo swoop

Chelsea may not have got the attacker they wanted to sign, and ended up with a midfield signing who will likely join Strasbourg on loan next season, but they did strengthen defensively.

Injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile forced Chelsea to enter the market for reinforcements, with the club exploring a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

Ultimately the Blues decided a deal for their former player was too expensive, but it’s believed they could revisit it in the summer, when the 24-year-old will have just one year left on his current deal.

Chelsea had a January approach rejected for Murillo. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Chelsea ultimately ended up recalling Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Selhurst Park, with the 25-year-old named man of the match on his first game back against Wolves last month.

However, The Telegraph have reported the Blues were targeting a swoop for Murillo early in January, but their interest was knocked back by Forest.

The report adds if a deal was done it would have been a club record sale for the Premier League high flyers, who currently sit third in the league.

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Forest paid £10.1m to sign Murillo from Corinthians in the summer of 2023, and the Brazilian signed a new four and half year deal last month.

It will be interesting to see if Chelsea go back in for Murillo in the summer, and what recruitment they plan to do at centre back, but for any possible deal for Murillo to happen the Blues must qualify for the Champions League next season.