How did Murillo fare at Nottingham Forest last season? Liverpool transfer target assessed

Liverpool likes Murillo of Nottingham Forest. The Brazilian has been mentioned as a transfer target for the Reds following his debut season in the Premier League.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool has been "keeping tabs" on Murillo's situation. That comes amid potential Profitability and Sustainability Regulations worries for Nottingham Forest, which may need to make a sale before June 30.

On Liverpool's end, there looks to be a need to strengthen at center-back. While Jarell Quansah impressed hugely in his breakthrough season, Joel Matip has now left the club, while Virgil van Dijk is turning 33 and Ibrahima Konate is prone to injuries.

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And there's a lot to like about Murillo. While Nottingham Forest as a whole clearly struggled last season, its defensive record surpassed all of the relegated teams, and in fact was better than that of West Ham up in ninth. Chelsea only conceded four fewer goals.

More saliently, Forest could sign Van Dijk and would probably still ship a lot of goals. It's not the best way to assess the individual qualities of Murillo, who does look to have the kind of skill-set that would translate well to a bigger team.

Crucially, he's highly assured in possession. His passing still leaves something to be desired at the top level, but he is comfortable running with the ball, and his rate of successful take-ons places him in the 98th percentile of defenders in Europe's top five leagues (FBRef).

Liverpool actually saw the downside of that when it won 3-0 at Anfield last season, with Murillo striding into midfield before getting dispossessed. The Reds went on the break, and Nottingham Forest ultimately conceded. But more generally, it's a very useful weapon. Liverpool don't need telling twice, having witnessed Matip wreak havoc with his leggy runs for the last eight years.

At just 21, Murillo would be a long-term replacement for Matip. No doubt his sense of when to embark on these runs will improve, and there's time for his passing to get better too, especially when surrounded by better teammates giving him better options.

It's impossible to assess his Premier League season without noting that he arrived directly from Corinthians in Brazil. Considering the massive step up he was making, he looked remarkably comfortable. And no review of his campaign would be complete without noting the incredible long-range efforts. More than once, Murillo came agonizingly close to emulating Xabi Alonso, unleashing unerring efforts from within his own half to leave goalkeepers scrambling.

Naturally, that won't be top of Liverpool's list of criteria. But these attempts showcased a defender with a real mastery over his ball-striking, and the vision and bravery to try something different: those things really do appeal to the Reds.

Liverpool.com says: The June 30 deadline is looming. But if there's a potential bargain to be had, Liverpool needs to be asking the question.

To adapt to the Premier League straight from Brazil at such a young age is highly impressive. And Murillo has the technical skills to more than match his strong physique.