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Beth Lindop
Multiple Authors
Liverpool is preparing to secure a season-long loan deal for defender Ronald Araújo from Barcelona, according to sources reported by ESPN.
The agreement includes an option for a permanent transfer.
Andoni Iraola, the new head coach of Liverpool, is actively seeking to strengthen his defense, especially with Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, and Jérémy Jacquet currently recovering from injuries.
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Araújo, who serves as the captain of Barcelona, is primarily a center back but is also capable of playing as a right back, which is advantageous for Liverpool as they manage the absence of Conor Bradley due to injury.
The 27-year-old has made 213 first-team appearances for Barcelona and was part of the Uruguay squad during this summer’s World Cup, although he did not participate in any matches.
Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcement was highlighted during their preseason tour of the United States, where captain Virgil van Dijk was excluded from the squad following a demanding previous season.
The team also faces a lack of experienced defenders with Ibrahima Konaté departing to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Araújo accepted the move to Liverpool after realizing he would not receive sufficient playing time under Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.
Having joined Barcelona in 2018 from Uruguayan club Boston River for €1.5 million, plus an additional €3 million in potential add-ons, Araújo rose to first-team status in October 2020 and quickly became a key player and one of the team captains.
However, his role has diminished since Flick’s arrival and due to injury setbacks, with Barcelona now featuring center backs like Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Gerard Martín, and Andreas Christensen in their squad.
Reporting contributed by Moises Llorens of ESPN.