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Chelsea transfer target Maxi Araujo has admitted he cannot wait to play in England for the first time.
His club, Sporting Lisbon, will face Arsenal in the Champions League next month, but the Uruguayan left-back made it clear that he hopes the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final is not the only occasion he plays in this country:
“It will be my first time in England, let it be the first of many. It will be incredible, a huge opportunity, and I will make the most of it.”
Reports in the French media have mentioned Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham as potential suitors for Araujo.
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How much would Araujo cost?
It is believed that the 26-year-old has an €80m (£69m) release clause €80m (£69m) in his contract.
Whether Sporting would sanction Araujo’s exit for below that amount, it is not known, but his form this season has clearly attracted a lot of attention.
The Uruguayan international has scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists in 35 appearances.
Do Chelsea need another left-back?
With Marc Cucurella and Jorrel Hato in the first-team squad, head coach Liam Rosenior is certainly not short of options on the left-hand side of defence.
However, the interest in Araujo does raise questions over whether Cucurella will get a new contract. The Spaniard’s current deal expires in 2028, and he may be looking for a pay rise on the £175,000 a week he is earning. Buy a Cucurella Chelsea jersey from Subside Sports here.
Cucurella is already the fourth-highest paid player in the first-team squad behind Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Enzo Fernandez, and he will turn 28 in July.
For that reason, you cannot rule out a potential departure if a contract extension can’t be agreed, and Araujo may be seen as a possible replacement.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here