'I turned down Liverpool and Chelsea interest – now I could join Arsenal for £58million'
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Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo - who already turned down rivals Liverpool and Chelsea. The Uruguayan centre-back has become somewhat of a cult hero at the Catalan club in recent years thanks to his leadership and crunching challenges. Yet a hamstring injury has ruled him out for much of the season until now, with the 25-year-old finally making his long-awaited return in the 4-0 win over Barbastro last weekend.
That means he is yet to win the trust of head coach Hansi Flick, with Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez forming the German’s preferred central defensive partnership. Mundo Deportivo reports that Arsenal are lining up a January bid - something which Araujo is said to have told his team-mates in the Barcelona dressing room that he is strongly considering.
Araujo is said to have grown ‘burnt out with various situations’ at Barcelona and his confession has ‘set off alarm bells’ with club bosses. Though the La Liga giants would be reluctant to accept a loan deal this winter, they would part ways with him if they receive a ‘very considerable and irresistible’ offer, according to the Spanish outlet.
Araujo is now into the last 18 months of his contract, with talks over an extension at a standstill. Per Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants received an offer from Juventus this month which they rejected due to his importance to the squad. But the report also claimed they would entertain offers of around €70million (£58m).
Unlike Juventus, Arsenal possess enough financial muscle to pull off the move. Araujo is claimed to have always been “curious” about testing himself in the Premier League, with Mikel Arteta’s side playing a style of football suited to him. However, it is worth noting that Arsenal are well-stocked when it comes to defenders already, instead prioritising a world class striker this transfer window.
