Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked with a move for 25-year-old Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo in recent times.
As relayed by 90min, Barcelona have now opened contract talks with 25-year-old Uruguayan international Ronald Araujo. The development will come as a major blow for Chelsea and Manchester United, who have been keen on signing him for a long time.
Speaking during FC Barcelona’s Ordinary General Assembly, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said, “We are working on Araujo, De Jong and Pedri’s new contracts.”
Araujo is one of the best defenders in La Liga, and he could have been a quality acquisition for Chelsea and Manchester United. Chelsea have looked vulnerable at the back, and they need to tighten up defensively if they want to win major trophies.
The 25-year-old would have been the ideal acquisition for them. He is capable of operating as a central defender as well as a right-back. He would have improved the Blues immensely. The defender is entering his peak years, and he could have been a key player for Chelsea in the coming seasons.
The Uruguayan international has the physical and technical attributes to adapt to English football as well, and Chelsea will be bitterly disappointed if he ends up signing a new deal with Barcelona.
Manchester United keen on Araujo
Manchester United also need defensive reinforcements. Although the Red Devils invested heavily in central defenders this past summer, they still need to find a quality long-term replacement for Harry Maguire. The Barcelona defender certainly fits the profile, and he could have been a quality acquisition for the Red Devils.
It will be interesting to see if Manchester United or Chelsea come forward with an official offer to sign the defender in the coming months. Even though Joan Laporta has confirmed that the player is holding contract talks with the Spanish club, his head could be turned if there is a lucrative offer on the table.
Barcelona are going through financial difficulties and the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United might be able to offer him a more lucrative contract. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops. The 25-year-old is certainly good enough to play in the Premier League, and he would be a quality acquisition for most teams in the country.
