Chelsea only made one permanent signing to add to their side in the January transfer window in what ended up a quiet period for the Blues.
They signed Mathis Amougou on deadline day, with the plan looking as if it will be to send him on loan to Strasbourg from the summer.
The Blues were linked to a number of top players during the transfer window, with them no doubt keen to give Enzo Maresca the required backing to get them back on track.
Chelsea offered Nottingham Forest record fee to sign Murillo in January
A few weeks after being thought by many to be in a title race, they needed to beat West Ham United on Monday night to return to the top four.
Central defenders were on the agenda at Stamford Bridge, and despite bringing Trevoh Chalobah back from his loan spell at Crystal Palace they were also linked with a number of Premier League options.
One of those was Murillo, who has enjoyed a top campaign so far amongst the biggest overachievers of the season, Nottingham Forest.
Jamie Carragher describe Murillo as ‘outstanding’ to Monday Night Football, and it seems Chelsea made a real effort to sign him last month.
According to The Telegraph, the Blues were prepared to give their Premier League rivals a club-record fee to sign the Brazilian, although their efforts were rejected.
Chelsea’s Champions League hopes
While as many as five clubs could qualify for the Champions League from England this season, competition is stiff for those places.
One of the surprise candidates is Nottingham Forest. The side currently third in the Premier League survived January without being raided by traditional elite sides.
Chelsea signing Murillo would have certainly left a void in their backline, whilst also strengthening their own defence going forwards.
One issue may have been him competing for minutes with Levi Colwill. The pair both prefer to feature on the left side of the centre-back pairing.
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