Liverpool affirm mortgage switch as £47m settlement reached over transfer
Liverpool have announced the loan addition of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona with the club also having the option to sign him permanently
Ronald Araujo has joined Liverpool on a loan deal from Barcelona with a £47m option to make the move permanent(Image: (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Liverpool have officially confirmed the signing of Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan from Barcelona. Andoni Iraola’s side also have the option to buy the versatile defender for £47million should they wish to.
All of Araujo’s wages are set to be covered by Liverpool and it is understood he offered to take on a decreased salary in order to seal a move to Anfield. There is no loan fee being paid for this deal and with the Uruguay international involved in pre-season for Barca, Liverpool believe he is ready to feature
Joe Gomez’s injury early into the pre-season friendly against Sunderland saw Liverpool enter the market for a new defender with Araujo capable of playing at right-back and in the centre of defence.
Joe Gomez picked up an injury in pre-season
Gomez is anticipated to remain out of action until late August at the earliest and new £60m acquisition Jeremy Jacquet is yet to feature for the Reds. He hasn’t appeared since sustaining a season-ending shoulder problem at Rennes back in February.
With teenage centre-back Ifenayi Ndukwe unavailable this season due to work-permit complications, sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Iraola had been examining their alternatives before settling on Araujo, who has slipped down the pecking order at Barca.
The 27-year-old also being able to operate as a right-back is a plus given Conor Bradley remains considerably away from returning following a serious and season-ending knee problem he sustained in the goalless stalemate at Arsenal in January.
Ronald Araujo has signed for Liverpool on loan
With Giovanni Leoni also several weeks away from a return following his own ACL injury in September last year, Araujo is potentially poised for a Liverpool debut at Newcastle United on August 23.
He could appear on Sunday against Como in one of two consecutive friendlies with the Italian outfit.
Araujo has spent the past eight years at Barcelona having arrived from Uruguayan club Boston River and Liverpool considered his leadership credentials having witnessed him named Barca captain in January of this year.
The Reds have faced criticism for a shortage of leaders following the departures of some prominent figures in recent years and the acquisition of the centre-back goes some way towards addressing that imbalance.
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The defender has turned out more than 200 times for Barca but slipped down the hierarchy under Hansi Flick, who recently told him that he was free to investigate his options elsewhere.
Araujo faced fierce criticism online following his dismissal during Barcelona’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Champions League in November. He subsequently stepped away for mental health reasons before making his comeback in January.
He represents the third acquisition of the summer following deals for defender Jacquet (£60m from Rennes) and Spain international winger Victor Munoz (£34.5m from Osasuna).
Liverpool continue talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Bradley Barcola, who carries a £140m price tag from the Champions League winners.
Such a sum would render France international Barcola the most costly player in Merseyside history and the Reds are eager to reduce the asking price for a winger who has two years remaining on his Paris contract and is determined to join Anfield.
PSG secured Monaco’s Maghnes Alikouche last week and are anticipated to capture Ajax’s Mika Godts, bolstering Luis Enrique’s attacking options further, which may prompt a relaxation of their position regarding Barcola.
