Arsenal have shown an interest in signing Ronaldo Araujo from Barcelona now as contract renewals with the Catalan club fail to progress.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who report that Arsenal wish to sign Araujo this month and have ‘already moved to tempt him’.
The newspaper reports that Araujo’s future ‘hangs by a thread’. Barcelona want to extend his contract beyond its current expiry in 2026, but talks are yet to progress positively on that front.
The 25-year-old recently made statements that ‘left everything open’ in terms of his future and that has not gone unnoticed by the clubs that want him.
Juventus were revealed as suitors by Gazzetta dello Sport today but Mundo Deportivo report that Arsenal can be added to that.
They are ‘very interested’ in strengthening themselves with the defender and ‘willing to bid strongly’ for him. His current contract includes a €1bn release clause. We’ll assume Arsenal won’t be paying that.
Araujo is aware that he is not first choice at this moment in time and Barcelona have been moving to sign Jonathan Tah. It is that which is pushing the defender to explore his options. He wants to play for a team who can guarantee him minutes and offer a competitive project.
Arsenal are aware of this and are ‘ready to bid for him now’, as are Juventus. For now, the player’s agents are not responding to the building rumours around their client this month.
Barcelona, for their part, are waiting to see what Araujo decides and if he wants to leave, they will consider the possibility.
