£47m star told how he can secure Liverpool move
Liverpool have been busy improving their options in defence over the last few windows.
Owing to contract expiration dates it has been necessary to replenish at centre-back, right-back and even left-back.
Over the past year and a half the 2024/25 Premier League champions have waved goodbye to Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate among others.
Summer 2027 will see Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez depart - with several younger players already in the building as replacements.
Liverpool could secure Ronald Araujo
Jeremy Jacquet was the summer’s headline defensive arrival and he has been joined at the AXA Training Centre by Giovanni Leoni, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
Given the ages and various experience levels of those players however there risks being a lack of senior options in the defensive line once Van Dijk and Gomez leave.
Enter Ronald Araujo.
The 27-year-old was signed on loan from Barcelona for the season - with an option to make his deal permanent at the end of the current campaign.
That would cost Liverpool around £47m - and given the Uruguay international’s performance levels so far it would seem like a no-brainer.
Araujo has been told by Iraola to learn English
But it’s by no means a done deal. A report in the Liverpool Echo is claiming there has been NO contact with the defender’s entourage over fixing up a move at this stage.
And in the meantime the strapping South American stopper has been issued another challenge by Andoni Iraola.
Learn English.
“Sources speak of a 'special bond' that he shares with Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister but he has been challenged by Iraola to improve his English so he is able to showcase his leadership skills to a relatively young group beyond just leading by example,” the report reads.
Another BBC Sport report names Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet as fellow English language learners around Anfield. But the difference between Araujo and the other three is his deal right now is “only” a loan deal.
That Iraola is making him learn English suggests that the Basque tactico is keen on having the Barca man on board long term. With gaps appearing at centre-back - and right-back - there is no greater time for Araujo to lay down a marker.
He has already been taken to the hearts of Merseysiders - due to his tenacity and commitment - and it looks now as though he is preparing the way for a longer stay at the club.
