Liverpool have agreed to sign Ronald Araújo on a season-long loan from Barcelona after Andoni Iraola was faced with lack of defensive options for the start of the new season.
Concerns over Jérémy Jacquet – the France Under -21 defender who arrived last season for more than £50m – and injuries to Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni have left Liverpool short of options at the back after the departure of Ibrahima Konaté on a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Araújo, who was part of the Barça side that won La Liga last season, will add much-needed cover in the short-term. The Uruguay defender is expected to complete his medical on Sunday after travelling to Merseyside. The deal for the 27-year-old is believed to contain an option to buy at the end of the season.
Araújo has made more than 200 appearances for Barcelona but only made 11 league starts under Hansi Flick last season.
Liverpool are understood to have shown an interest in Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa but were put off by the England defender’s £60m valuation. Arsenal have seen an initial approach for Konsa rejected.
Jacquet, who signed from Rennes in February, has not made a competitive appearance yet after picking up a serious shoulder injury last season and Iraola admitted that he had asked to be substituted in the friendly against Leeds last week. “It was just some overload, and I hope he’s not injured in that way. I don’t think we’ve lost anyone,” he said.
Liverpool have held talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a move for Bradley Barcola, although the European champions value him at around £145m. PSG are expected to make a move for Spain’s World Cup final hero Ferran Torres, who has only one year left on his contract at the Camp Nou.
