Real Madrid have Murillo transfer plan as £20m Nottingham Forest impact becomes clear

Nottingham Forest star Murillo is being linked with a move to both Spanish giants this summer.

Forest signed Murillo last summer from Corinthians for a fee in the region of £11 million, where he put pen to paper on a five-year deal until 2028. The centre-back has gone on to become a key player at the heart of the Reds defence this season and is vital to the club's hopes of maintaining their Premier League status.

Murillo has made 31 appearances in all competitions for Forest in his debut season at the City Ground, including 27 in the Premier League. His form in defence has seen the 21-year-old heavily linked with a move away from Trentside when the transfer window reopens in the summer.

A report in Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo has claimed that both Real Madrid and Barcelona are showing an interest in signing Murillo. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in the centre-back this summer.

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The report claims that Real Madrid have been monitoring Murillo ever since he completed his move to Forest last summer. It has not been stated, though, how likely the La Liga giants are to make a move to bring the centre-back to the Santiago Bernabeu when the transfer window opens.

As a result, Forest may face a battle to keep Murillo at the club, especially if clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona come calling. A report from the Daily Mail has claimed that Forest value Murillo in the region of £50 million, but there have been different figures doing the rounds recently.

The CIES Football Observatory also updated the current market value of Murillo to £30 million at the start of April. This represents an increase of £20 million from the start of the season, yet more evidence of the impact he has made at the City Ground in his debut season with the Reds.