Chelsea on alert as Ronald Araujo rejects Barcelona contract extension
According to Marca, Barcelona centre-back, Ronald Araujo has rejected the club’s opening contract extension offer, putting the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United on alert as they seek to tempt the defender away from the Nou Camp.
The South American rose to prominence in the last few seasons in Spain, recently becoming a mainstay in the Barcelona defence at just 22-years-old. The Uruguayan has enjoyed a stellar campaign this season, despite the club performing poorly in the league.
The Catalans are said to have made Araujo’s contract extension a priority and recognise his youth and potential. They remain intent on keeping the player at the Nou Camp for years to come. The defender, for his part, is also keen on staying but feels that his ability and performances need to be suitably compensated. It would appear that Barcelona’s first offer failed to reflect this.
It is no secret that the defence has been a troublesome position for the La Liga club in recent years, with Gerard Pique the only regular at the heart of the defence. Araujo’s rise has now handed the Catalans a young defender who can be relied upon.
Chelsea would be jumping at the chance to sign the talented player, who boasts of being able to play in multiple positions. He has already proven his versatility at Barcelona by featuring as a full-back on either flank. This is good news for Chelsea, who are missing both of their first choice wing-backs in Ben Chilwell and Reece James. Having a player such as Araujo at their disposal certainly opens up new possibilities for Thomas Tuchel.
It is reported that although the Catalan club’s offer put forward to Araujo was rejected, discussions between the player and club were amicable and are expected to resume at a later date. The Uruguayan is also keen to stay after rising to prominence in the past year.
This last bit of news about the player’s intention to stay and talks resuming soon does not bode well for Chelsea. However, the defender is fair game until a deal is signed and it needs to be seen if the Blues can convince him to switch clubs.
Chelsea are in somewhat of a similar situation themselves, with three of their senior players – all of whom are centre-backs. Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and the versatile Cesar Azpilicueta will all become free agents in the summer if an agreement cannot be reached regarding a new contract.
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Araujo’s versatility and his impressive performances for Barcelona have garnered the attention that he so richly deserves, with Manchester United also set to be alerted about the player’s contract situation. However, with no reports of player unrest or a statement from the club intending to sell him for a fee in the coming months, it is unlikely that we will see the defender leave Catalonia anytime soon.
What happens before the summer of 2023 is anyone’s guess, and if things go Chelsea’s way before then, we might just land ourselves the next defensive mainstay at the Bridge.
