Liverpool love a random transfer.
The Reds kicked off their summer with a signing out of the blue, hijacking Newcastle United’s deal to sign Victor Munoz, almost out of nowhere. Liverpool rather publicly courted Yan Diomande, but pivoted after the 19-year-old declared his intentions to join Paris Saint-Germain. Only to end up at Real Madrid. Since then, Liverpool’s priority in attack has been Bradley Barcola. And they’ve not shied away from their push for the versatile forward.
Under the radar, though, other deals were being worked on. One of those was for Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo. The 27-year-old is expected to be announced soon after the Reds struck a deal with the La Liga champions to bring the centre-back in on a season-long loan.
It caught a lot of people by surprise.
Before the transfer was reported, Liverpool had been linked with Ezri Konsa. The Reds were reportedly looking for a hybrid defender, capable of playing centre-back and right-back. Other names had been mentioned, with Andoni Iraola looking to bolstering his defensive options following Ibrahima Konate’s departure, Joe Gomez’s injury and the uncertainty surrounding Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet following long spells on the sidelines for both.
Liverpool’s move for Ronald Araujo
The need for Ronald Araujo
Despite those close to the club distancing themselves from the fact previously, Liverpool did need defensive reinforcements.
Konate left for Real Madrid and Joe Gomez, simply put, isn’t reliable. While Liverpool might’ve gone all in on Jacquet as the long-term solution on the right side of a centre-back pairing, he’s yet to play a minute in pre-season. And he missed the latter half of last season with a shoulder injury. Leoni is back after an ACL injury but isn’t expected to be in first-team contention until next month.
It left Iraola with Virgil van Dijk as his old senior centre-back option.
Liverpool need a high-level centre-back with the traits to play in an aggressive, front-footed system. He ticks that box. He’s not perfect. If he was he wouldn’t be getting loaned out at 27. He turns everything into a battle and, at times, he loses them in areas that’ll hurt the team. But it’s a risk vs reward game. You take the rough with the smooth.
You aren’t going to find many out there with his profile without breaking the bank. And if you do bring in someone on a long-term deal, what happens with Jacquet and Leoni?
Araujo can play an Iraola system. He can play in a physical league like the Premier League. He’s decent in possession too. Alongside Van Dijk, he might be marshalled into scaling his game and adding consistency to his performances.
The gamble
At one stage a couple of years ago, Araujo was viewed as someone who could succeed Van Dijk as the world’s best. The Uruguayan had everything going for him. He was quick and powerful. He was dominant in the air and on the ground.
But he leant into his physical gifts a little too much and didn’t develop other parts of his game. Araujo didn’t pick and choose his battles. He viewed everything as winnable and was dragged into silly situations that didn’t favour him or his team.
Hansi Flick favoured Inigo Martinez in his defensive highline, a centre-back not famed for his pace or physicality. Yet he was preferred to Araujo, who, on paper, was better suited. When he was given opportunities, he seemed to be at the scene of the crime. It was a criticism levelled at Konate last season.
The issue for the Barcelona centre-back was that these mistakes seemed to happen in make or break games. There are concerns over his mentality too. Will he be able to handle the rigorous and the pressures of the Premier League playing for a team like Liverpool?
While a loan is usually low risk, the fact the Reds are covering his wages for the season make it higher risk. Araujo is reportedly on £200,000-per-week and he’d arrive as one of the highest earners at the club. He needs to contribute. He needs to acclimatise to life in England quickly.
Araujo’s long-term future at Anfield
Liverpool have a purchase option to make Araujo’s long stint a permanent move at the end of the season if he does well enough. It is believed to be £47million. It’s a reasonable fee for someone of his calibre with his experience and profile.
With Gomez and Van Dijk into the final 12 months of their deals at Anfield, there is a need for a senior centre-back and Araujo might feel as though he has the chance to claim that spot. However, according to reports Araujo hasn’t been signed with that in mind.
The impression is he’s a short-term solution for a defensive unit in a bit of turmoil. But he has a point to prove and an opportunity to secure a big move to Liverpool. The scene is set perfectly for him.