Chelsea is actively pursuing Murillo from Nottingham Forest, proposing to include Trevoh Chalobah in their offer. Enzo Maresca, targeting Murillo despite Chelsea having six centre-backs, recognizes the Brazilian’s talent following his standout debut season in England. Initially acquired from Corinthians, Murillo’s performance has sparked interest, with Chelsea discussing a potential £70m valuation and a swap involving Chalobah. The move to sell Chalobah aligns with Chelsea’s strategy to navigate the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations, as revenue from academy players counts as pure profit, crucially ahead of the accounting deadline this Sunday.
Transfer Speculations and Strategic Moves in Football
Although Trevoh Chalobah’s interest in joining a club on his terms might pose a challenge for Nottingham Forest, his departure from Chelsea seems more probable following the arrival of Tosin Adarabioyo. Despite the tough competition within Chelsea’s defense, Chalobah favors a team competing in European leagues, a preference that aligns with interest from Manchester United. Forest’s recent struggle against relegation and their need to comply with Financial Fair Play rules could lead them to accept offers for other players, potentially raising funds through the sale of Moussa Niakhaté to Lyon.
Chelsea’s strategy appears focused on youth, demonstrated by their imminent signing of 19-year-old Aaron Anselmino for around £17 million and the near completion of a deal for Barcelona’s Marc Guiu. Plans to loan Anselmino to Strasbourg and Chelsea’s interest in additional strikers, including Lille’s Jonathan David, highlight their active transfer window.
Simultaneously, Chelsea is making a bold move to outbid Brighton for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester. With Leicester facing potential sanctions for breaching Premier League spending regulations, a significant sale like Dewsbury-Hall’s could be strategically beneficial, considering his foundational role at the club and his previous importance to Maresca at Leicester.
Atalanta and Lyon Vie for Everton’s Ben Godfrey
Europa League champions Atalanta are set to compete with Lyon for the acquisition of Everton defender Ben Godfrey. The Serie A club is considering a transfer deal worth approximately €10m. Godfrey, who transferred to Everton from Norwich in 2020 for £25m, will see his contract at Goodison Park expire next summer. Under manager Sean Dyche, he has struggled to secure a permanent position in central defense. Although Lyon has proposed £12.7m for the 26-year-old, Godfrey’s preference reportedly leans towards Atalanta, particularly as they will participate in the Champions League next season. Everton, aiming to meet Premier League financial sustainability criteria, is inclined to finalize a deal by month’s end. Meanwhile, the club maintains that there is no necessity to sell Jarrad Branthwaite, another target of Manchester United, unless the offer meets their valuation of the England international.
