Chelsea want to sign a new central defender in January, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
"Chelsea are following several players in the centre-back position but no talks taking place yet," Romano wrote for The Daily Briefing on Wednesday.
He continued: “There are so many links but there’s nothing concrete or really advanced now."
Chelsea have recently been linked with Nottingham Forest's highly-rated Brazilian centre-back Murillo.
Romano neither confirmed or denied that Chelsea are interested in the 22-year-old, but said that he would come at a high price for any interested party.
"Murillo would be very expensive for any club as when Juventus thought about him last summer, Nottingham Forest didn't want to open the doors for him to leave," he wrote.
While it remains unclear whether Murillo is on Chelsea's watchlist for January, one of his compatriots is, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
Phillips wrote on Tuesday that Chelsea are keeping tabs on Zenit St. Petersburg defender Robert Renan, who is currently out on-loan at Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab.
The 20-year-old has a £22 million release clause in his contract with Zenit, according to Phillips.
Writing about Renan last year, football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as "a left-footed center back with remarkable ball playing prowess."
Renan in, Mudryk out?
One player that could soon be on their way out of Stamford Bridge is Mykhailo Mudryk.
At least that's according to Spanish football website Fichajes, which on Sunday reported that Liverpool are eyeing Mudryk as a long-term placement for Mohamed Salah.
Salah, a former Blue himself, is widely expected to leave Anfield at the end of the season when his current deal expires.
Fichajes reported that Liverpool would be willing to pay an initial fee of around €35 million (£29.3 million) for Mudryk, though that could rise to €50 million (£41.8 million) in performance-related add-ons.
Comments