Newcastle United are keen to add to their defensive ranks and are now showing interest in a Barcelona player who has been brilliant for the La Liga giants.
Ronald Araujo has spent the last five years in Catalonia where he has been ‘outstanding’ but is now starting to have doubts over his future at the club sparking interest from some of Europe’s elite.
90min are now reporting that Newcastle are one of several teams who admire Araujo and are keeping a close eye on his situation in Spain as his relationship with the club looks damaged.
Araujo is unhappy with how he is being treated at Barcelona
Traditionally a centre-back, Araujo has often been playing in the right-back position for manager Xavi and while he may be willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win, it is still not his preferred position.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Araujo said: “The truth is, I don’t like playing as a right-back. That’s the reality.
“But I always say, wherever the coach and the team ask me, I’m going to play and give my best, but obviously I feel very comfortable playing as a centre-back because it’s my natural position and it is where I can give 100%.”
Following the departures of experienced Barcelona players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Araujo was promoted to the captaincy group at the start of the season, reflecting how popular he is amongst everyone at the club.
Former Newcastle man and Araujo’s teammate Luuk de Jong even predicted that the 24-year-old would be ‘one of the best in the world’ while Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior claimed that he is ‘the best defender I have ever faced’.
Rumours linking him to a move to Bayern Munich have put some doubt into the mind of the Uruguayan talent who may be considering his options for the future.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool alongside Newcastle are also believed to be big fans of the Barcelona defender and will be ready to pounce if he ever becomes available.
Newcastle are on the lookout for a new centre-back
Newcastle currently have a brilliant centre-back partnership in Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, arguably one of the best in the league when fully fit.
The problem, however, is that Botman has been injured for quite a few weeks now while Schar, as good as he is, will soon be entering the twilight of his career as he turns 32-years-old next week, so Newcastle are thinking about the long-term future of the team.
Araujo would be a massive coup for the Magpies and would be a sign of the owners’ intent, thought it looks unlikely that Barcelona would consider selling him in the next few months.
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