Krishnan Sreekumar
Transfer News: Manchester United to discover their chances of signing Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo next week
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t Express), clubs chasing Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, including Manchester United, are set to know about their chances of signing the star in the summer with the player and club set for contract talks.
The Uruguayan has been one of the standout centre-backs in the Barca squad over the past two years, with the defender playing a key role in the side alongside veteran partner Gerard Pique. This season as well, he has continued his good form, seeing interest from other clubs who are keen on securing his services.
The player sees his current deal at the Nou Camp expire in the summer of 2023, which has increased the scrutiny about his future with the Catalan club. The 23-year-old is currently engrossed in contract negotiations with Barcelona. This season, he has arguably one of the best defenders in La Liga.
United are looking for a quality defender ahead of the new campaign, given their defensive frailties in the current season. New signing Raphael Varane has not made the impact everyone hoped for, while skipper Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have continued to be underwhelming.
Next 10 days
Their pursuit of Araujo is likely to be made clear in the next 10 days, as his agent is set to meet with Barca executives. If the Catalans are not able to meet his demands, he could be destined for an exit later this year.
Although contract negotiations between Araujo and the Nou Camp outfit have been protracted and a solution has not been reached as of yet, talks have been in ‘good harmony‘ and the Uruguayan is happy to stay in Spain.
The Red Devils will be keenly monitoring the situation next week, as they look to enter the market in the summer transfer window and solidify their rearguard. Cheap goals have been let in this season which has seen us slip down the Premier League table.
Currently in sixth place, a strong finish in the remaining weeks of the campaign is required to ensure we take control of the fourth spot in the table and make sure we qualify for the Champions League next season. If we are to pursue Araujo in the coming months, UCL football will be an attractive option to convince him to leave.
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Although Araujo is currently engaged in a contract standstill at Barca, he is not interested in the La Liga side matching the offers that other clubs can offer him. Instead, he is simply looking for his team to value his role in the squad and reward him appropriately.
Given how important he is to the Catalan side’s defence, the senior officials at the Nou Camp are taking precautions in their talks with the player. His preference is staying on a much lower wage in Spain than moving elsewhere, so the next few weeks will be interesting with respect to United’s pursuit of the player.
