**Liverpool are closing in on a surprise move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.**
Araujo is set to provide fresh backline depth for Andoni Iraola’s side following the departure of Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid and mounting injury problems.
Summer arrival Jeremy Jacquet is a doubt for Sunday’s pre-season friendly with Monaco while Joe Gomez will miss the opening weeks of the new campaign.
Giovanni Leoni’s recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury is still some way off returning while right-back Conor Bradley also remains several months away.
Teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who recently arrived from Austria Vienna, will also be ineligible for competitive action after failing to secure a UK work permit.
, the 18-year-old signed from Austria Vienna this summer, has impressed so far in pre-season but will not be eligible to play in competitive fixtures having failed to secure a UK work permit.
Araujo’s switch to Anfield will be an initial season-long loan with an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the forthcoming Premier League season.
The Uruguay international can play at right-back as well as centre-back and has made over 200 appearances for Barcelona in seven years with the club.
He was promoted to the Catalans’ captaincy group in 2023 and featured 38 times last season as they claimed a third La Liga title in the space of four years.
Araujo will become Liverpool’s first loan signing since 2022, when out-of-favour [Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo joined on a short-term deal](https://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/49565-no-hard-feelings-in-arthurs-liverpool-exit/).