Krishnan Sreekumar
Transfer News: Manchester United closely monitoring defender Ronald Araujo as Barcelona star yet to sign new contract
According to Spanish outlet Sport (h/t Express), Manchester United are closely monitoring Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, with the player’s future at the Nou Camp uncertain amid unsuccessful contract negotiations.
The defender has been a standout success in La Liga, marshalling the rearguard and making sure that the team look solid at the back alongside veteran Gerard Pique. The two have been particularly impressive this season under new manager Xavi Hernandez.
With the Uruguayan’s current contract with Barca expiring in the summer of 2023, the club are keen to keep him at the club and make him sign a new deal so they do not risk losing him for free at the end of next season.
In the event that they are unable to do so, they would prefer to cash in on Araujo this summer rather than lose him for free next year. If so, then United are said to be very keen on acquiring his services ahead of the new season to bolster their defence. Barca are also apparently ‘more than aware’ of the interest and are open to offers from the Red Devils.
And it comes to no one’s surprise, especially those who have followed his season at Camp Nou so far. He has been one of the shining lights in Xavi’s Barca’s side and could be one of the world’s best defenders in the coming years.
High transfer offer for Araujo
It is no secret that Barcelona are interested in holding on to one of their best performers beyond next year, and have offered him a new contract to stay at the Nou Camp. However, talks between the defender and the Catalan side were unsuccessful as the player’s representatives were not happy with the club’s first offers. The La Liga giants are now intent on improving their previous offer.
Given this situation, the Red Devils are planning a ‘high transfer offer’ to sign the 23-year-old in the summer. Barca are more than aware of United’s interest in the Uruguay international and would even consider an offer for Araujo if he decides to depart Spain.
Clean sheets have been a rare sight at Old Trafford this term, with club captain Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof unable to continue last season’s decent defensive record as the side finished second in the Premier League table.
Raphael Varane was brought in from Real Madrid to improve things at the back and push on from last term. However, the Manchester side seems to have regressed, with the club sitting seventh in the league table and in danger of missing out on Champions League football next campaign.
More Manchester United News
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A new centre-back is necessary for us to erase this season’s poor showing from our memories and start anew under a new manager in the summer, and Araujo is one of the best in the business available in the market at the moment. It remains to be seen if he and Barca manage to have breakthroughs in their contract negotiations in the coming weeks.
If not, the Nou Camp outfit may well understand that this summer is perhaps the last chance to get a big fee for him, and the Red Devils are sure to be frontrunners if they are already preparing offers for the defender. United fans will hope that the player and Barcelona fail to come to an agreement by the summer in order to work the situation to our advantage.
