Arsenal preparing move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo

The defensive department of the Arsenal squad needs quality additions this summer.

According to multiple reports emanating from Spain, Arsenal are preparing move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguay international was signed by Barcelona in August 2018 from Boston River for a fee of 4.7 million euros. He has a contract until 2023 with the club.

The defender has played 72 times for Barcelona over the course of his career, scoring six goals and providing one assist.

He is considered to be one of the best defenders in Uruguay. Araujo has earned seven senior caps for the Uruguay national team but is yet to open his goal-scoring account for his nation.

Ronald Araujo is set to be a man in demand in the summer transfer window, with a host of clubs queuing up to pursue his signature.

The Gunners have earmarked Barcelona defender as their target, with Mikel Arteta being a ‘huge admirer’ of the player. The Arsenal manager has been impressed by his performances this season and could make a move this summer.

Arsenal are in the market for just a handful of statement signings who can improve the first-team.

The former Boston River man is a very comfortable defender and has qualities which would improve the Arsenal’s backline. His versatile nature can help the manager to be more flexible with the formations.

According to the report, “Arsenal are prepared to double what Barcelona are offering and match a reported Man Utd bid to land Ronald Araujo. Araujo, 23, has quickly developed into one of LaLiga’s finest defenders. The Uruguayan has featured heavily at centre-back this season, though his versatility has allowed him to operate in both full-back positions too. Indeed, Araujo once again occupied the right-back berth as Barcelona took Real Madrid apart 4-0 in last weekend’s El Clasico. Araujo notched his fourth league goal of the season in the drubbing at the Bernabeu. However, despite his importance to Xavi’s side, Araujo may find himself on the move in a coming window. His issue stems from failing to receive a contract offer from Barcelona which he believes merits his worth. The defender is understood to still be on the terms agreed when he arrived at the Camp Nou in 2018. Barcelona are attempting to tie him down to fresh terms, but their proposals thus far haven’t met Araujo’s requirements. The Red Devils are understood to have readied an annual salary of €8m. That roughly equates to a weekly wage of £128,000. Per ABC, that is double what Barcelona are offering (€4m), and the Spaniards are refusing to budge. Arsenal are now deemed ready to match United’s €8m salary offer. The fact they may have Champions League football next season – and United might not – could aid their cause.”

Euro Football Rumours

It would take a huge offer from Arsenal to prise the 23-year-old defender from Barcelona.

The Spanish giants would be wise to keep the Uruguay international, but if they do let him go expect it to be for a hefty sum.

Good signing for Arsenal?

If Arsenal and Arteta are seriously considering a defender, Araujo could also prove to be a smart option.

Ronald Araujo has all the skillset required to be a success story at Arsenal. Therefore, it makes sense for Mikel Arteta to step up his attempts to bring the Uruguay defender to Premier League side.

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can convince the Spanish outfit to sell Araujo in the coming transfer window.

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Do Arsenal need to sign Ronald Araujo?

Bologna-born Giuseppe Bianchi has spent more than a decade living in Rome and writing about Italian football, Spanish football and the Premier League for various Italian football portals and now he writes about European football for Euro Football Rumours. He's been thinking about football transfers pretty much nonstop since the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Aside from writing, he likes to spend his time fishing and rock climbing.