{"id":791804,"date":"2026-10-04T15:50:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T15:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/791804\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T15:50:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T15:50:24","slug":"murillo-should-not-be-considered-a-virgil-van-dijk-successor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/791804\/","title":{"rendered":"Murillo should not be considered a Virgil van Dijk successor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Murillo has been touted as a potential long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Pete O\u2019Rourke at Football Insider<\/a> reports that both Chelsea and Liverpool have joined the race to sign the Nottingham Forest defender next year.<\/p>\n

However, the Tricky Trees are not open to the prospect of striking a deal in the upcoming January transfer window.<\/p>\n

Could Murillo replace Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool?\"Liverpool(Photo by Shaun Botterill\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t mind the look of Murillo as a more experienced operator in the heart of our defence. Particularly given the fact that Jeremy Jacquet (21) is set to inherit the title of Liverpool\u2019s most senior centre-back should all three of Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Ronald Araujo depart at the end of 2026\/27.<\/p>\n

However, we have to bring into serious question the prospect of the Nottingham Forest star being considered a long-term successor to our venerated No.4.<\/p>\n

Put simply, we\u2019re not confident the Brazilian has the ceiling to measure up against Virgil in the long run.<\/p>\n

Murillo\u2019s stats (per 90)
\nVirgil van Dijk\u2019s stats (per 90)<\/p>\n

12.05 line-breaking passes (70th percentile)
\n16.2 line-breaking passes (89th percentile)<\/p>\n

1 chance created (94th percentile)
\n0.2 chances created (39th percentile)<\/p>\n

4.02 accurate long balls (78th percentile)
\n6.2 accurate long balls (97th percentile)<\/p>\n

47.1% duels won percentage (16th percentile)
\n74.1% duels won percentage (92nd percentile)<\/p>\n

52.9% aerial duels won percentage (34th percentile)
\n71.4% aerial duels won percentage (80th percentile)<\/p>\n

0.6 dribbled past (28th percentile)<\/p>\n

* Murillo and Virgil van Dijk\u2019s stats in the 2026\/27 Premier League season (FotMob<\/a>)<\/p>\n

To be clear: we can see aspects of Murillo\u2019s game that Liverpool would find appealing<\/a>. But the 24-year-old feels like more of a squad option than an out-and-out starter when compared to our current defensive pairing.<\/p>\n

Certainly, there will surely be at least some amount of concern expressed during recruitment team meetings over Murillo\u2019s apparent ineffectiveness in the air and against the ball compared to our current first-choice options.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s harsh but fair\"Liverpool(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Even at 35 years of age, it feels a little harsh to compare still-developing centre-halves to arguably the greatest living centre-back in Premier League history. But, like it or lump it, this is the standard; this is the bar everyone must be confident you\u2019ll reach.<\/p>\n

While we don\u2019t necessarily see Tottenham\u2019s Micky van de Ven as a bona fide Virgil van Dijk successor<\/a>, at least the Dutchman feels closer to the minimum bar of quality Liverpool would be looking for. Likewise, we\u2019d sooner see the club commit a vast amount of funds to a footballer with a clearly high ceiling, like Brighton\u2019s Luka Vuskovic.<\/p>\n

Either way, if Liverpool are going to push for an experienced operator this summer (depending on what happens with Van Dijk and Araujo), we just don\u2019t think Murillo will be the name right at the top of the shortlist.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\t\tMore Stories \/ Latest News<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\"Liverpool\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\"Liverpool\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

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