Liverpool Transfer News: Liverpool’s defensive plans could dictate their next major recruitment drive, with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both approaching the final months of their contracts. Their current deals expire in June 2027, leaving the club with important decisions before next summer. Ronald Araújo adds quality at centre-back, while Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni still need time to establish themselves as senior options.

Andoni Iraola’s approach makes that succession question particularly important. His high defensive line and aggressive pressing demand centre-backs who can defend large spaces, win individual battles and start attacks with accurate distribution. Liverpool’s fifth-place position and defeats against Manchester City and Arsenal have exposed the need for greater defensive consistency.

That situation has placed two defenders on the recruitment team’s radar. According to The Daily Briefing, Liverpool are considering Nottingham Forest’s Murillo and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck as leading targets for 2027. Both players signed contract extensions earlier this year, so negotiations could prove difficult.

Murillo has particularly strong credentials in England. The 24-year-old Brazilian has played nine Premier League matches and completed 810 minutes for Forest this season. He has scored no goals but supplied one assist, completed 368 passes at 87% accuracy, won 13 of 14 tackles and made 59 clearances.

The Daily Briefing places him alongside Schlotterbeck on Liverpool’s shortlist, with their combined estimated transfer value reaching €123.9 million, although that figure doesn’t represent an agreed asking price.

Liverpool Transfer News: Should Liverpool prioritise Murillo over Schlotterbeck?

Murillo should lead the shortlist, although Forest’s reported £78 million valuation demands serious consideration. His Premier League experience gives Liverpool a clearer picture of how he handles the speed and physical demands of English football. His recovery pace and ability to defend one-on-one situations make him a strong candidate for Iraola’s system.

Schlotterbeck offers another route, with experience at Dortmund and in European competition, so Liverpool shouldn’t dismiss him without a full assessment. However, Murillo’s domestic experience reduces the uncertainty around adaptation, while his age gives Liverpool a potential long-term partner for Araújo.

The recruitment team must still assess wages, contract demands and Forest’s willingness to negotiate. Paying close to £78 million would only make sense if Liverpool see Murillo as a first-choice defender capable of taking responsibility in Van Dijk’s absence, rather than simply adding another expensive centre-back.