Report: Man Utd start making plans for senior Red’s departure by targeting relegation-threatened Brazil stalwart

Manchester United are preparing for Harry Maguire to pull the curtain on his tenure after seven years this summer.Indeed, the centre-half is now in the final five months of his deal at Old Trafford, with the board yet to offer him fresh terms or an extension.He is free to talk to foreign clubs over a potential end-of-season move this month, and reports have suggested Maguire is being targeted by Serie A giants Inter Milan and Napoli, the latter of which would allow him to reunite with former United teammates Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund next term.United identify Murillo as ideal Maguire successor(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)In turn, United have begun scouring the market for replacements.MailSport claim that INEOS have set their sights on an ambitious move for Nottingham Forest stalwart Murillo, who’s been deemed ‘one of the best young defenders in the Premier League’.12 months ago, the Brazilian put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year deal to keep him tied to the City Ground until 2029. However, Tom Collomosse’s report adds that Murillo is actually ‘open to leaving Forest next summer’. New: Man Utd looking at Murillo. Can’t see him leaving mid-season, at all. Very different conversation in the summer #nffc #mufchttps://t.co/MVD2dfeDgk — Tom Collomosse (@TomCollomosse) January 15, 2026Could Murillo depart Forest this year?(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)Presumably, he would also push for a departure upon the culmination of 2025/2026 if the Midlands outfit drop back down to the Championship – albeit they are currently seven points adrift of the bottom-three.The 23-year-old is valued at £47.6 million by Transfermarkt, though you’d imagine Forest will be asking for considerably more if they eventually concede that he might not be seeing out his lengthy contract.He has racked up 83 top-flight appearances since arriving in Nottingham from Corinthians for just £11.2m in 2021.Read more: Rio singles out INEOS signing he’s ‘honestly disappointed’ with – no wonder they’re considering a sale after 18 months