Manchester United are ready to break the bank and offer €100 million to sign Barcelona defensive mainstay Ronald Araujo.
While Ruben Amorim has identified quite a few key areas that need reinforcement ahead of next season, the Portuguese manager wants to prioritise the signing of a new centre-back. According to a report from Fichajes, Manchester United are interested in the services of Ronald Araujo and they are ready to table a massive offer worth €100 million to bring him to Old Trafford.
On the back of his impressive performances at Boston River, Araujo made the move to Barcelona in the summer of 2018. He got promoted to their first team two years down the line and has only gone from strength to strength since.
The 25-year-old established himself as one of their mainstays in no time but the recent past hasn’t been that great for him as he has struggled to stay fit. After missing a significant part of the new season because of a hamstring injury, Araujo is slowly getting back to his best.
The Uruguayan international was heavily linked with a move away from the club during the winter transfer window. Barcelona who have significant financial struggles were ready to sanction his departure as long as Juventus are ready to meet their demands.
But, things didn’t go according to plan as the Old Lady were not willing to offer in excess of €100 million. Not only did the 25-year-old end up staying at the club, the Catalan giants even agreed upon a new deal with him extending his stay until the summer of 2031.
Manchester United push for Araujo
While he has committed his long-term future to the club, Barcelona could still sell him for the right fee as they look to raise funds amidst an ongoing financial crisis at the club. Manchester United could look to make the most out of it as they want to reinforce their backline on a priority basis.
Ruben Amorim prefers playing with a back three and he feels they do not have enough quality and depth to effectively use that system. As a result, they will be in the market for a new star defender and they are willing to break the bank for the Uruguayan international.
The Red Devils have made him a priority target for the next summer transfer window. Meanwhile, they will face significant competition from other top clubs and the final say will depend on Barcelona’s financial situation and the player.
