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According to the Italian news outlet Calciomercato (h/t The Sun), Chelsea have been handed a boost in their pursuit to sign Ronald Araujo as Barcelona have lined up a transfer for Kalidou Koulibaly. This update could indicate that Araujo could be in line to leave Camp Nou at the end of this season.
Uncertainty has surrounded Araujo’s situation at Barca for quite a while as his contract is set to expire in 2023. His side is putting in the effort to extend his current deal but no agreement has been reached so far. As a result, they have been keeping tabs on Koulibaly ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Catalans have already held a meeting with Koulibaly’s agent Fali Ramadani regarding a future move. His contract is also up after the next campaign, so Napoli could be open to facilitating a transfer so as not to lose him for free in the future if a renewal is not agreed upon between them in the coming months. The Blues could potentially see a breakthrough in their interest for Araujo, going by this update.
If this news is believed to be true, then there is a real possibility that Araujo could end up leaving the Blaugrana club in the future. After all, the Senegalese centre-back is touted as a potential replacement for the Barcelona defender.
For that to happen, though, Thomas Tuchel’s side must find a solution to the transfer ban that is currently imposed on the club. We cannot engage in any business because of that, which means that currently, we cannot do anything regarding the Uruguayan if the situation does not change.
With Manchester United being in the race as well, things get more complicated for us in our pursuit to sign the 23-year-old. They are plotting to make a “big investment” for him which would be concerning, to say the least, for us. That is further highlighted when one considers the centre-back crisis that could unravel after this term at Stamford Bridge.
Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta are at risk to leave us on free transfers this summer. That means we would be smart to plan for the worst and safeguard our long-term interests by identifying suitable alternatives. That is without even considering how Thiago Silva needs a long-term replacement as well given his age.
Not to mention, Malang Sarr is not ready just yet to consistently perform at the top level for us. As such, Araujo can be a solid choice in this regard, but the ownership crisis must be solved so that we can make a case for ourselves. Let’s hope to see a positive outcome in the future as we near the summer transfer window.
It will be interesting to see whether we can bring in the La Liga defender or not ahead of next term. He has been one of the standout performers for a reformed Barca side under Xavi and those who have watched him would know how good a player he is to have in your side.
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