Chelsea are now eyeing €35m Barcelona defender after Levi Colwill ACL setback – Report | OneFootball

The imminent departure of Inigo Martinez will undoubtedly leave Barcelona in a difficult position. The veteran centre-back was one of their most reliable defensive pillars last season, and losing him is already a significant blow.

Yet, he may not be the only Barça defender attracting interest from clubs with deep pockets.

Chelsea eyeing Barcelona defender after Colwill injury

Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images

According to Fichajes, Premier League side Chelsea has now set their sights on Ronald Araujo. The €35 million-rated Uruguayan centre-back is among the main options as the Blues seek to reinforce their defence following confirmation of Levi Colwill’s serious ACL injury.

The setback will sideline the young Englishman for the majority of the upcoming season, pushing Chelsea into the market for a top-tier replacement.

Moreover, Araujo’s inconsistency at Barça has led the London-based club to believe that the Catalans might be willing to let him go. The report also claims that Barcelona would be willing to negotiate or consider offers in the range of around €50 million for him.

Realistically speaking, however, nothing should be expected out of this. Considering that Martinez is set to leave to join Al Nassr as a free agent, there is no way that Barça would be open to offloading another centre-back this summer.

Moreover, Deco himself has already confirmed previously that Araujo will not be going anywhere this summer. With a lot of factors to take into account, it is clear that the Catalan side will realistically not be entertaining another defensive exit.

Furthermore, Araujo himself also addressed his future just a few days ago, making his commitment crystal clear:

In short, despite Chelsea’s reported interest and financial muscle, a transfer is highly improbable. Unless there is an extraordinary turn of events, the Uruguayan defender will remain a key figure in Hansi Flick’s plans for the upcoming season.