Speculation about Liverpool signing Ronald Araujo is gathering pace.
The Barcelona defender has been linked with a move to Anfield in recent weeks.
However, ESPN reported on Thursday that Liverpool have offered the player £6 million per year to join the Reds this summer, with his contract at Camp Nou expiring in 2023.
And if Jurgen Klopp does sign him, well it’s a massive upgrade on the player he’ll be replacing.
Araujo is a central defender and that’s one of the last places Liverpool need to strengthen – unless, of course, Klopp loses a centre-back.
Joe Gomez is being linked with a transfer away from Merseyside and having barely kicked a ball this season, that’s one deal that’ll probably happen.
If Gomez does indeed leave, the Barca powerhouse will be coming in as his replacement.
The former Charlton man is a good defender and there’s no doubt about that, but Araujo is a major upgrade.
Anyone who gets a move to Barca is going to be a very decent defender and the fac that Liverpool could sign him is very exciting indeed.
One of the greats
Even Pablo Zabaleta, formerly of Manchester City, claimed that he’ll go down as a legend of South American football.
He told Sport: “Physically he has a lot of presence, he dominates the aerial game and, without a doubt, he will be one of the great soccer players of Uruguayan soccer.”
Gomez has a presence too but does he dominate the game like Araujo can?
The answer is, well, no.
The Uruguay international has that bit more footballing intelligence in defence than Gomez – and lest we forget he’s only 23.
This is a player who’ll get a lot better under a manager like Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp.
Gomez is popular among some Reds supporters, but there’s no denying that his potential replacement is a stronger player.
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