Manchester United are planning a big move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
Ronald Araujo, 25, wants to stay at Barcelona, while the club are also not keen to offload him in the summer, but there are several variables involved that could swing things in the favour of Manchester United. The 20-time English champions are keeping tabs on the Uruguayan international’s situation at Camp Nou, and although he is a key cog in Xavi Hernandez’s side, the club’s crunch financial condition means they would consider selling some star players at the end of the season.
The Red Devils wanted Araujo in 2022 and are now intensifying their efforts to sign him. They have reportedly contacted Barcelona over a potential summer swoop for the 25-year-old defender, who is in talks with the Spanish club over a new deal. Araujo’s current deal expires in 2026, and after talks over a fresh deal have seemingly reached an impasse, it looks like Blaugrana could sell him in the next transfer window.
Bayern Munich were interested in Araujo during the January transfer window and they could come back in for him, depending who replaces manager Thomas Tuchel before the 2024/25 campaign.
Manchester United planning a defensive shake up
Manchester United broke the British transfer record for a defender in the summer of 2019 when they signed Harry Maguire in a £80million deal from Leicester City. Since then, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have arrived from Real Madrid and Ajax, respectively, while Jonny Evans returned on a free transfer last summer. However, given the alarming defensive crisis, Erik ten Hag has endured, new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are planning a defensive overhaul.
Ratcliffe and Co are set to sanction two centre-back signings as part of a shake-up—potentially a replacement for Varane and competition for crocked Martinez. And the Red Devils are prepared to take advantage of Barcelona’s financial mess by making a bold swoop for Ronald Araujo, who is regarded as one of the best defensive talents in Europe.
The Red Devils set to break the bank for Ronald Araujo
Man United have reached out to Barcelona and are now ready to enter discussions with Araujo’s entourage over a potential £85m move. The Uruguayan international, who can operate at right-back as well, would be a strong addition to Erik ten Hag’s leaky backline. He would be an upgrade on the injury-prone Varane whilst being the perfect partner for Martinez in central defence, if the Argentinean manages to keep himself fit in the upcoming years.
The Mancunian giants will try to make some progress in talks soon, but it remains to be seen how they will persuade Araujo to choose Old Trafford as his next destination without Champions League football for next campaign.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
