Liverpool turn to Barcelona defender amid Guehi transfer blow – Report | OneFootball

One of the side effects of having a squad as talented as Barcelona is that it becomes much more difficult to keep everyone happy and give enough game time.

This often attracts attention from Europe’s elite clubs, who attempt to lure away Barça’s talents by offering them a more prominent role elsewhere.

Ronald Araujo is a prime example. Until recently, the Uruguayan international was not a guaranteed starter under Hansi Flick, sitting behind Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi in the pecking order.

However, Inigo’s departure to Al Nassr has elevated Araujo to first-choice status alongside Cubarsi, reinforcing his importance to the Catalan club.

Despite this elevation, according to Fichajes, Liverpool’s interest in the 26-year-old has intensified. The Premier League side’s initial transfer target was Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, but Palace have made it clear that he will not leave unless a record-breaking fee is paid.

That stance has forced Liverpool to reassess their priorities, and Araujo has quickly moved to the top of their shortlist.

The timing is telling. Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield exposed vulnerabilities in defence, raising concerns over the form and fitness of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

From Liverpool’s perspective, the Barcelona defender possesses all the qualities they value in a central defender. He brings physicality, leadership, strength in the air, and the experience needed to adapt quickly to the demands of the Premier League.

The report from Fichajes also claims that the Reds may prepare an offer in the region of €60 million if they decide to act, believing it could be enough to test Barcelona’s resolve.

However, with Inigo Martinez gone and first-captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen sidelined through injury, Araujo’s importance to Barça has never been higher. He is now a leading figure in Flick’s backline and could also wear the armband in the German coach’s setup.

His performance in the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como offered further evidence of his importance. He displayed composure on the ball, excellent anticipation, and a clear understanding of how to execute the high defensive line effectively. These qualities make it easy to see why Barcelona are reluctant to part ways with him.

While the transfer window remains open, the Catalan club’s stance appears clear: Araujo is not for sale. Liverpool may still monitor the situation, but prising the Uruguayan away from Camp Nou this summer will be an uphill battle.