Why Man Utd are keen to pursue £70m EPL star instead of ‘phenomenal’ free agent

The source believes Liverpool are well ahead of Chelsea and Man Utd in the race for the departing Bournemouth star, who could take the torch from the ageing Virgil van Dijk.

Nevertheless, this isn’t necessarily a blow to United, as the club never considered Senesi a priority target in the first place.

As the report explains, the Red Devils prefer to sign a young defender, hence why they’re expected to launch an onslaught for Nottingham Forest defender Murillo.

Why Man United are enticed by Nottingham Forest star Murillo

Murillo is a 23-year-old Brazilian centre-half who rose through the ranks of Corinthians. In the summer of 23, Forest decided to gamble on the then-inexperienced youngster by paying £10 million to recruit his services.

As the Guardian put it, the Reds hit the jackpot, as the Sao Paolo native has now flourished into an ‘amazing’ defender during his time.

However, choosing Murillo over Senesi is a financially costly decision for Man Utd. It has been reported that Forest aren’t willing to sell their prized asset for anything less than £70 million.

Therefore, it remains to be seen if Man Utd will be capable of striking an agreement with the City Ground outfit.

In addition to being five years Senesi’s junior, Murillo also has a slightly different skill set. While the Brazilian is no slouch on the ball, he isn’t renowned for his distribution skills like the Argentine.

(Stats via DataMB)

On the other hand, Murillo offers a bit more aggression, as he relishes 1-v-1, and he often finds success when going against the striker.