FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is set to sign a new contract with the club that will include a €1bn (£832m) release clause amid interest from Liverpool.
As reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the La Liga side are close to trying down the 23-year-old defender to a new deal after months of negotiations, with Liverpool just one of the sides interested in Araujo.
As reported by Sport, Jurgen Klopp’s side are big fans of the Uruguay international, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United also chasing Araujo before agreeing to a new contract with Barcelona.
However, with Araujo now set to pen a contract with an astronomic release clause, it is highly unlikely that Liverpool or any Premier League club will be able to buy the centre-back out of his new Barcelona deal.
The defender has been a key player for Xavi Hernandez’s side this season and is viewed by many at Barcelona as a major pillar for the club’s future, with Araujo the potential long-term successor to Gerard Pique at the back.
And now, the Catalan giants have seemingly secured the defender’s future with a mega-contract, much to the dismay of Liverpool, who have missed out on a gem of a talent.
Liverpool could regret missing out on Araujo amid new Barcelona contract
Whilst Liverpool are stacked in the centre-back position, there’s no denying that Araujo could have been an exceptional addition for the Reds, yet this new contract with Barcelona will likely see the defender remain at the Nou Camp for the best years of his career.
Indeed, the Barcelona project is one of the most exciting in Europe, and Araujo will likely play a central role in Xavi’s rebuild of the La Liga super club.
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