Chelsea are now ready to offer not just one player, but two – as well as cash – to beat Arsenal to the signing of a Premier League star.

The Blues have already beaten the Gunners to one exciting Brazilian talent this summer after swooping in ahead of the north Londoners to sign Estevao Willian – a player tipped to become a “legend” of football.

Now, Chelsea are ready to make an opening bid to beat Arsenal to another Brazilian…

Chelsea prepare bid for Arsenal target Murillo

A story from UOL now claims that Chelsea have no intention of paying Nottingham Forest’s €60m (£50m) asking price for Murillo – but are instead set to offer the Reds two players and cash.

It comes after the Daily Mail claimed that Arsenal want to sign the South American, after his hugely impressive debut campaign in the Premier League last season.

Edu is believed to be personally pushing Mikel Arteta to sign the 21-year-old this summer.

Murillo proved himself as a fascinating defender who seems to thrive in the modern game throughout the 2023/24 campaign, combining robust defending with eccentric attacking ideas which almost saw him score Goal of the Season contenders on numerous occasions, including one from well inside his own half away to Tottenham, and the same away to Luton.

Now – however – Chelsea are ready to make the first move.

The west Londoners have been holding talks with Nottingham Forest, informing those at the City Ground they will not meet his £50m asking price, but are happy to include two unnamed players and cash.

Murillo made 32 Premier League appearances last season, providing two assists.

Mikel Arteta will have to be convincing

Putting the financial aspect of this deal aside, Arteta will surely have to convince Murillo over a move to the Emirates Stadium due to the formidable partnership of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

The Brazil international and the France international are rock solid at the back for Arsenal, helping the Gunners concede fewer goals than any other Premier League side last season (29) while also working to keep a whopping 18 clean sheets.

Therefore, unless Murillo is happy to initially start out in north London as a backup option and work to break Gabriel and Saliba apart, he may opt to join Chelsea, where it will be easier to walk straight into the backline – given the fact it is less settled.

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