Expected window: January 2027
Murillo to Manchester United
Last update: 24 days ago
Evidence score
Murillo could move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester United in January. The player, a centre-back under contract until June 2030, has been tracked by United as a defensive target.
- Independent sources20/40
2 independent sources (max 4); 5 other outlets only repeat someone else's reporting
- Source track record14/25
55% estimated accuracy (5 past cases, small samples are pulled towards 40%)
- Deal stage0/25
Stage: interest
- How recent7/10
Last update 24 days ago
What we know
Murillo could move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester United in January. The player, a centre-back under contract until June 2030, has been tracked by United as a defensive target.
The story began on 7 Oct, when Football365 reported United had Murillo on their radar, with Dean Jones of Tribal Football cited as the source. On 8 Oct, four outlets — FootballTransfers, Yahoo Sports, TEAMtalk and Football365 — all ran with interest, each attributing the claim to TEAMtalk. On 9 Oct, MSN and MSN South Africa added that Forest were determined to hold on, while another MSN piece stated Forest had made up their mind on selling in January. Football365 also noted on 9 Oct that Forest were not planning to sell, with United targeting a longer-term move. MSN says Forest are determined to keep hold, and Football365 says they are not planning to sell.
Only TEAMtalk adds that United are regarded as the most eager to add defensive options in January, having tracked him extensively.
Key findings
- Earliest report on file: 3 Oct 2026, CaughtOffside, citing Football Insider (not among the sources).
- 2 independent sources behind it (TEAMtalk, TribalFootball.com); 5 other outlets only repeat earlier reporting.
- Best-rated independent source: TEAMtalk.
- Deal stage reached by a counted source: interest.
- 1 report attributes the story to Dean Jones for Tribal Football, whose own article is not among the sources.
- 1 report attributes the story to Football Insider, whose own article is not among the sources.
- No source denies the move.
- Latest evidence: 24 days ago.
Who reported it
| Outlet | Tier | What they said | Track record | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEAMtalk 09/10/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Manchester United are regarded as the most eager to add defensive options in January, having tracked him extensively Stage: interest | 5 of 5 cases · 100% | Original source |
| TribalFootball.com 06/10/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | They have certainly been monitoring him and remain ambitious about the possibility of signing him if it becomes possible Stage: interest | No history yet | Original source |
| Yahoo Sports 09/10/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Forest are taking a firm line on Murillo with any winter exit requiring an exceptional offer and remaining highly unlikely Stage: interest | 1 of 3 cases · 33% | Cites TEAMtalk |
| Football365 09/10/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Forest not planning to sell Murillo in January, United targeting longer-term move Stage: interest | 1 case, no percentage yet | Repeats another outlet |
| Football365 07/10/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Murillo remains on United's radar heading into next year, though Everton standout Jarrad Branthwaite is also being considered. Stage: interest | 1 case, no percentage yet | Cites Dean Jones for Tribal Football (not in this dossier) |
| Yahoo Sports 06/10/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Manchester United is monitoring Murillo and remains ambitious about signing him next summer to bolster their defence. Stage: interest | 1 of 3 cases · 33% | Cites TribalFootball.com |
| FootballTransfers 10/10/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | Man Utd have joined Liverpool and Chelsea in tracking the former Corinthians player ahead of January Fee quoted: £80 million Stage: interest | No history yet | Cites TEAMtalk |
| MSN 10/10/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | Manchester United is among clubs interested in Murillo, with Nottingham Forest determined to hold on. Stage: interest | No history yet | Repeats another outlet |
| MSN 10/10/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | Nottingham Forest have made up their mind on selling Murillo to Manchester United in the January transfer window Stage: interest | No history yet | Repeats another outlet |
| FootballTransfers 09/10/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | Nottingham Forest will only consider exceptional offers for Murillo in January, TEAMtalk claims Stage: interest | No history yet | Cites TEAMtalk |
| CaughtOffside 03/10/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | Manchester United could revive their interest in Nottingham Forest defender Murillo as they look to strengthen their defensive options ahead of the 2027 summer transfer window. Stage: interest | 2 cases, no percentage yet | Cites Football Insider (not in this dossier) |
Timeline
- 10 Oct 2026 · FootballTransfersMan Utd have joined Liverpool and Chelsea in tracking the former Corinthians player ahead of January
Repeats reporting attributed to TEAMtalk. Stage: interest
- 10 Oct 2026 · MSNManchester United is among clubs interested in Murillo, with Nottingham Forest determined to hold on.
Repeats reporting from another outlet. Stage: interest
- 10 Oct 2026 · MSNNottingham Forest have made up their mind on selling Murillo to Manchester United in the January transfer window
Repeats reporting from another outlet. Stage: interest
- 09 Oct 2026 · FootballTransfersNottingham Forest will only consider exceptional offers for Murillo in January, TEAMtalk claims
Repeats reporting attributed to TEAMtalk. Stage: interest
- 09 Oct 2026 · Yahoo SportsForest are taking a firm line on Murillo with any winter exit requiring an exceptional offer and remaining highly unlikely
Repeats reporting attributed to TEAMtalk. Stage: interest
- 09 Oct 2026 · TEAMtalkManchester United are regarded as the most eager to add defensive options in January, having tracked him extensively
First-hand report. Stage: interest
- 09 Oct 2026 · Football365Forest not planning to sell Murillo in January, United targeting longer-term move
Repeats reporting from another outlet. Stage: interest
- 07 Oct 2026 · Football365Murillo remains on United's radar heading into next year, though Everton standout Jarrad Branthwaite is also being considered.
Repeats reporting attributed to Dean Jones for Tribal Football (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 06 Oct 2026 · Yahoo SportsManchester United is monitoring Murillo and remains ambitious about signing him next summer to bolster their defence.
Repeats reporting attributed to TribalFootball.com. Stage: interest
- 06 Oct 2026 · TribalFootball.comThey have certainly been monitoring him and remain ambitious about the possibility of signing him if it becomes possible
First-hand report. Stage: interest
- 03 Oct 2026 · CaughtOffsideManchester United could revive their interest in Nottingham Forest defender Murillo as they look to strengthen their defensive options ahead of the 2027 summer transfer window.
Repeats reporting attributed to Football Insider (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
Does Manchester United need him?
Centre-Back: the centre-backs Manchester United already have, from their squad list, and who they brought in there over the last two seasons. Facts only: we do not judge the need.
Current centre-backs (5, 2 with a year or less left)
| Player | Position | Age | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisandro Martínez | Centre-Back | 28 | 30 Jun 2027 |
| Leny Yoro | Centre-Back | 20 | 30 Jun 2029 |
| Ayden Heaven | Centre-Back | 20 | 30 Jun 2029 |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Centre-Back | 26 | 30 Jun 2029 |
| Harry Maguire | Centre-Back | 33 | 30 Jun 2027 |
Recent signings in this position
- Tyler Fredricson (Centre-Back)· no longer in the squad2025/26 · from Manchester United U21 · fee undisclosed
Is it still alive?
- First report
- 03 Oct 2026
- Latest report
- 10 Oct 2026 (23 days ago)
- Transfer window
- January 2027: shuts in 91 days
The window the reports point to. If the move has not happened 10 days after it shuts, the dossier closes as not done.
No new reporting for over three weeks: the story is going cold.
Contract and fee
- Contract until
- June 2030
- Reported fee
- €93.6m
- Fee check
- Above what players like him usually cost
“£80 million (FootballTransfers)”
- Outlets quoting
- 1
- Confidence
- Single source
Converted to euros at approximate fixed rates. Outlets that only repeat another outlet's figure do not count as corroboration.
Score over time
Player profile
- Full name
- Murillo Santiago Costa dos Santos
- Age
- 24
- Agent
- FWD Team
Photo: SOCCER DIGITAL, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized and cropped.
Full player profile: contract and career moves →