Liverpool receive green light to complete €55m transfer
Liverpool have struggled immensely at right-back since the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid last summer, but they appear to have found an ideal solution during the early weeks of the new season.
Jeremie Frimpong was signed to replace Alexander-Arnold in 2025, following an impressive stint at Bayer Leverkusen, but he has endured an injury-hit stint at Anfield and has never looked entirely comfortable in a full-back role.
Meanwhile, Conor Bradley has also struggled to stay fit, meaning Dominik Szoboszlai was often forced to fill in on the right-side of defence last term.
In a bid to address this issue, Liverpool surprisingly opted against signing an out-and-out right-back over the summer and instead finalised a loan deal with Barcelona for Uruguay international Ronaldo Araujo, who is naturally a central defender.
The 27-year-old is also capable of playing on the right of a back four and it’s in this role that he has found a home at Liverpool.
After starting the opening two matches of the new Premier League season on the substitutes bench, Araujo was brought into the starting XI at right-back versus Ipswich Town and he has now started Liverpool’s last three English top flight fixtures.
The Reds have kept a clean sheet in all three matches and while fellow new arrival Jeremy Jacquet has received significant praise for his form alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, Araujo deserves his flowers too.
In fact, if early evidence is anything to go by, Liverpool appear to have solved their right-back problem.
Liverpool to sign Ronaldo Araujo?
While Araujo initially joined Liverpool on a season-long loan deal, the move includes a €55 million buy-option clause, and Andoni Iraola has received significant encouragement to finalise a permanent transfer given the 27-year-old’s recent form.
He has looked immense defensively since his introduction into the starting XI and while his form at centre-back for Barcelona became a concern last season, he has slotted in extremely well at right-back since his arrival at Anfield.
Araujo has played a key role in the Reds’ uptick in form in September and his defensive solidity provides left-back Milos Kerkez with slightly more freedom to attack on the opposite flank, which suits both players perfectly.
The Uruguayan has quickly established himself as a fan’s favourite at Anfield and he has more than earned his spot in Iraola’s favoured starting XI.
For €55m, Liverpool may be able to find another suitable option as their long-term replacement for Alexander-Arnold, but Araujo is proving his credentials on a weekly basis and given his ability to provide cover at centre-back too, the Reds will unquestionably be considering a permanent transfer next summer.
