Manchester United are the club ‘most interested’ in signing Ronald Araujo from Barcelona this summer, should he fail to sign a new deal.
That’s according to Sport, who say that United are ready to pounce if the Catalans cannot find an agreement with the player.
The newspaper explains that Barcelona will try to get Araujo’s contract talks ‘back on track’ during the last week of March as they don’t want to avoid complicating the matter further.
Araujo is out of contract in 2023, meaning Barcelona have to get him tied to a new deal this summer or risk losing him on a free next year.
They’ve been trying to do that for several months with no success, Araujo having ‘rejected the first two proposals’ put forward.
He wants to be ‘valued according to his performance’ and believes that as he is currently the ‘clear leader’ in defence, should be getting more from his new contract.
Araujo is not asking for a huge price but believes he should be paid similar figures as Pedri and Ansu Fati considering his role in the team is the same as theirs.
Barcelona are yet to make such an offer, so the interested parties, namely Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain, are now circling.
The Catalan giants are ‘aware’ of Manchester United’s interest and the fact they are ‘willing to pay the transfer fee’ and ‘high salary’ to bring him to Old Trafford this summer.
They will ‘try to reach an agreement’ with the player, although he has made it clear he wants to stay at the Camp Nou and is ‘willing to lose money’ to do so.
He knows he could earn more at United or PSG but feels ‘very identified’ with Barcelona and is grateful for the opportunity that they have given him so far.
If they offer a deal similar to what other players have been given, his continuity at the club is guaranteed. Manchester United, though, are trying to test that as much as they can.
