Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in 24-year-old Barcelona mainstay Ronald Araujo.
According to reputed German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Ronald Araujo is the subject of interest from Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions have monitored the 24-year-old for two years. And they have already submitted an enquiry to sign the Barcelona mainstay. But a move is unlikely, with the Blaugrana not interested in selling the defender.
Ronald Araujo has established himself as one of the best young defenders in the world since joining Barcelona. The Uruguayan international arrived in Catalonia over half a decade ago, with the Blaugrana signing him from Boston River. He took some time to establish a foothold in the first-team squad but has not looked back since making his debut.
The 24-year-old has been a mainstay at the back for Barcelona in the last couple of seasons. Araujo has turned out 124 times thus far for the Catalan outfit, chipping in with eight goals and three assists. Meanwhile, the player has become a senior figure for his national team despite only making 16 international appearances.
Araujo’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with many high-profile clubs setting their sights on him. Premier League bigwigs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United have previously tried prising him away from Barcelona. And Bayern Munich will be the latest club to make a move for Ronald Araujo.
Bayern Munich delved into the market for a centre-back in the summer transfer window, with Kim Min-jae arriving from Napoli. But Dayot Upamecano and Kim have blown hot and cold this season. In addition, Matthijs de Ligt faces an uncertain future at Bayern Munich after some recent comments by Thomas Tuchel.
So, it behoves Bayern Munich to invest in a centre-back who can be a long-term solution for them. Ronald Araujo is thus a viable target, with Die Roten monitoring his progress in the last two years. The Bundesliga champions have also submitted an enquiry for the Barcelona mainstay. But a move is not on the cards.
Barcelona will look to tie the 24-year-old to a new contract in the coming months. So, Bayern Munich must look elsewhere to bolster the midfield unit. But their other centre-back targets, like Takehiro Tomiyasu and Raphael Varane, might also be unattainable. So, it will be interesting to see who bolsters the Bayern Munich backline next year.