Liverpool have reportedly made an ‘approach’ to Barcelona central defender Ronald Araujo.
The Reds have been perennially linked with the 22-year-old recently and a stall in contract negotiations could open the door for a move.
Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United have also shown an interest in the Uruguay international.
According to a report from Catalan newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness), as cited by LFCNews on Twitter, Liverpool have already started the process.
Liverpool news and transfers LIVE – Fabio Carvalho update, Ronald Araujo offer, Gavi interest https://t.co/zxuuoV26AS
— LFCNews (@LFCNews) February 7, 2022
The report claims that the seven-cap ace ‘has been approached’ by Liverpool as the Catalan giants struggle to tie their man down to a new deal.
So far this season Araujo – hailed as ‘spectacular’ by Xavi – has earned an impressive 7.01 average Sofascore rating from 17 La Liga outings.
READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT
Valued at £31.5million and under contract at the Camp Nou until 2023 (Transfermarkt), signing the Uruguayan this summer for a cut-price fee would be a superb piece of business.
Albeit the Reds are currently well-stocked in the defensive department, Jurgen Klopp is always on the lookout to positively evolve this side.
Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate have rotated seamlessly this term but Joe Gomez has struggled for form since returning from injury.
Possessing all the necessary attributes to be an elite defender and still just 22, Araujo could be an irresistible opportunity at the right price.
With Barcelona likely to be reluctant to lose such a key player for nothing in 2023, a bargain deal at the end of this season is a possibility.
