Pranav Nair
Transfer News: Manchester United on alert as Ronald Araujo rejects new Barcelona contract offer
According to Marca via 90min (h/t Football.london), Premier League giants Manchester United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Barcelona star Ronald Araujo.
The 22-year-old will enter the final year of his contract at the Nou Camp next summer. He came through the Academy at the club and has established himself as a reliable option at the back beside the veteran Gerard Pique. Araujo has made 24 appearances for the Catalans this season, scoring two goals.
Barcelona are keen to keep hold of the South American and have presented him with a new contract offer. The Uruguayan, however, is seeking a pay rise that is on par with his performances and has dismissed Barcelona’s first approach. This gives Man United an opportunity to make their move.
Despite Araujo rejecting the contract, the relationship between the club and the player remains amicable. Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez has already admitted that renewing the youngster’s contract is a priority.
Araujo to the PL?
Given the club’s financial troubles and inability to compete this season, it is imperative that they don’t lose the best talents that have come through the academy. Araujo is just 22 and has the potential to become a long-term solution for the Catalans in the heart of their defence.
Man United will face competition from both Chelsea and Liverpool for the player’s services. The Reds already have four solid first-choice defenders at their disposal and do not seem like they are a club in desperate need of another centre-back. Chelsea, meanwhile, could be in for a defensive overhaul should one of their senior stars leave on a free in the summer.
Man United went big on Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire in recent years but it has done little to make us impregnable at the back. The latter continues to struggle and could be on his way out in the summer. Araujo has the potential to be a key player for us in the years to come.
More Manchester United News
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He is also not the only Barcelona player on Man United’s radar. Ousmane Dembele has also attracted attention from the Old Trafford outfit and it appears that he will be on the move sooner or later. Whether this means Man United will make a double swoop remains to be seen.
But either of those may well go a long way in adding depth to our team. One could argue that Araujo looks like a more pressing addition given our problems with depth at the back, but the dynamic French winger is certainly a player to bring in if presented with a chance to do so.
