Manchester United have reportedly been linked with a move for 24-year-old Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
Ronald Araujo has established himself as one of the best performers in La Liga. So, it is no surprise that he is being linked with the move away from Barcelona. Florian Plettenberg has claimed that Manchester United have made an inquiry for the 24-year-old defender, and they might follow up on their interest with a concrete proposal.
Manchester United Keen on Ronald Araujo
The South American defender could be tempted to test himself in the Premier League, and it would certainly be an exciting challenge for him. Araujo is valued at €80 million, and Manchester United certainly have the finances to afford him.
But the Uruguayan defender wants to stay at Barcelona until the end of the season. So any move might have to wait until the summer transfer window. However, Barcelona want to tie him to a new contract.
The Uruguayan international certainly has the potential to do well in the Premier League, and he could prove to be a solid addition to the Manchester United defence. Recent reports have claimed that he is attracted by the prospect of playing in the English top flight.
Raphael Varane has been linked with a move away from Manchester United, who will have to bring in an adequate replacement. Araujo would form a superb partnership with Lisandro Martinez. In addition, the 24-year-old Barcelona mainstay is versatile enough to operate as a full-back, and he could be an asset for the Red Devils.
It will be interesting to see if the player is ready to leave Barcelona and join Manchester United. It might come across as a step down for the Uruguayan international. Furthermore, Manchester United will need to secure Champions League qualification to attract players of his quality.
The Red Devils are going through a difficult phase right now, and it will be interesting to see if they can get their season back on track and finish in the top four. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old defender is still relatively young, and he is likely to improve further with coaching and experience.
Araujo could develop into a world class central defender for Manchester United, and it will be interesting to see if the Premier League side can negotiate a reasonable fee with Barcelona for the €80 million-rated star.