Liverpool JUST DROPPED THE HAMMER! €80 MILLION for Brazil’s SILVER BULLET—and a €12M-per-year BAG to match.
Liverpool are not just preparing for the summer transfer window — they are reshaping their squad with decisive, high-stakes intent.
With Ibrahima Konaté’s contract expiring at the end of the season and Virgil van Dijk now 34, the Premier League champions have identified defensive reinforcement as a non-negotiable priority.
Sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that the club, backed by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is ready to act aggressively on two major targets: a €80 million move for Nottingham Forest’s Murillo and a lucrative €12 million-per-year salary package for Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni.
The €80m Pursuit of Brazil’s MurilloLiverpool’s transfer correspondent Fraser Fletcher reports that the Reds have shown “keen interest” in the 23-year-old Brazil international centre-back and are preparing to table a substantial bid in the region of €80 million (£69.4m / $92.5m) for a 2026 summer deal.
Murillo is viewed internally as a possible long-term successor to the ageing Van Dijk — a dynamic, ball-playing defender capable of anchoring the backline for years to come. At just 23, he represents the exact profile Liverpool have targeted in their post-Konaté rebuild: youthful, technically elite, and Premier League-proven.
Yet Liverpool are far from alone in their admiration. Manchester United have already held preliminary discussions with Nottingham Forest over the player.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is another admirer, while Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all monitoring the situation closely. Murillo is widely expected to leave the City Ground next season — especially if Forest are relegated — and a bidding war appears inevitable.
The €12m Salary Offer to TchouaméniSimultaneously, Liverpool have turned their attention to the midfield. According to Defensa Central, the club is among those keen on signing Aurélien Tchouaméni from Real Madrid and is reportedly willing to offer the 26-year-old France international a salary of €12 million (£10.4m / $13.8m) per year.
Tchouaméni, who has also featured as a centre-back for Los Blancos, would bring versatility and physical dominance to Arne Slot’s engine room. Manchester United are also credited with interest. However, the report is clear: the player “just wants to be at Real Madrid.”
Real Madrid are preparing to open talks over a new contract and are expected to improve his terms without breaking their established salary structure.
Tchouaméni himself is said to be realistic about his role and has no plans to push for an exorbitant wage.
No Swap Deal for DiomandeIn a separate development, Bild journalist Christian Falk has firmly dismissed speculation linking Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo in a swap for RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old wide forward Yan Diomande. Falk confirmed Liverpool scouts have been regular attendees at Leipzig matches and that the club is indeed monitoring the highly-rated youngster.
Leipzig would consider selling only for offers above the €100 million mark, while Bayern Munich have already ruled themselves out due to the price.
Falk stressed there has been “no offer” from Liverpool for a swap, and Leipzig have no interest in Gakpo — citing his profile, age and cost as mismatches for their preference for younger, developable talents.
PSG are also in the mix, adding further competition should Liverpool pursue Diomande formally.
Strategic IntentThese moves — a potential €80 million outlay for Murillo and a high-salary proposal for Tchouaméni — signal FSG’s willingness to invest heavily to protect their defensive foundation while keeping midfield options open.
Whether either deal materialises remains to be seen; both targets face stiff competition and strong ties to their current clubs. But the message from Anfield is unmistakable: Liverpool are not waiting for the market to come to them. They have dropped the hammer first.
