Manchester United’s chances of getting Ronald Araujo from Barcelona have been given a boost as Barcelona’s latest contract renewal has fallen short of his expectations.
That’s according to Sport, who say the defender is being forced to look at his options as Barcelona are playing low-ball.
The centre-back is out of contract next year, so Barcelona need to either get him signed to a new deal or sell him to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 2023.
They’re keen to keep him, but negotiations have not gone well on that front so far, with the Catalans having ‘settled on a figure’ that is ‘far short’ of what the player ‘considers fair’.
That’s left the negotiations at a ‘dangerous impasse’, and there is a growing feeling that an agreement is getting further away.
Talks are planned for next week to try and settle the issue, but those are likely to be tough, with Araujo asking for similar pay to the likes of Ansu Fati and Pedri but being offered a salary that would make him one of the lowest-paid members of the squad.
This is something his agents cannot understand given his importance in the team, and they know their client has ‘important offers’ from elsewhere.
Manchester United, in particular, are keeping a close eye on the situation and are willing to pay a ‘high transfer fee’ to get him this summer.
Indeed, Sport say that they ‘will ask’ Barcelona to name their price for the centre-back should negotiations over a new contract continue to falter.
Araujo’s intention has always been to stay at the Camp Nou, and that has not changed, so much so that he is willing to lose money to stay at the club.
However, Barcelona are yet to take the next step and offer him a deal he can accept, something Manchester United are more than wiling to do if given a chance.
