Ronald Araujo is set to be the latest arrival for Liverpool in the summer transfer window, with the defender joining on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona looks on before the LaLiga EA Sports match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona
Ronald Araujo was set to stay at Barcelona but will now join Liverpool on loan for the season(Image: (Photo by David Aliaga/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Ronald Araujo wasn't planning on leaving Barcelona this summer, but a U-turn has seen the defender close in on a deal to join Liverpool for the season.
The Reds have agreed a season-long loan for the Uruguayan international, with a permanent buy option clause thrown into the deal that could see him join the club on a long-term deal next summer.
The 27-year-old will cover off two key problem areas, having shown an ability to play at both centre-back and right-back, which have lacked depth options for Andoni Iraola in preseason so far.
It's a move that is set to be finalized soon, with the deal coming out of the blue and moving along quickly towards a clear conclusion in the coming days.
As Araujo travels to Merseyside for the final agreement and medical, Liverpool is getting a player with plenty of experience and leadership in his career so far.
However, it was a transfer that wasn't exactly planned out at the start of the window, particularly on the side of the player when summer came around.
The Athletic claims that Araujo hadn't even considered leaving Barcelona when he switched the Blaugrana jersey for the Uruguay shirt at the start of the World Cup this summer.
The defender was convinced that he could become a key player under manager Hansi Flick, after spending time out of the team at the back end of last season.
Then came a transfer meeting just a few days ago, where the head coach made it clear that the 27-year-old would feature next season, but not as a key player within his setup.
That sparked Liverpool into life, as it took just two days to go from no links to a full agreement, with the Reds agreeing to pay the player's full wages as part of the loan deal.
Ronald Araujo of Barcelona
Ronald Araujo of Barcelona(Image: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
It shows just how quickly Liverpool moved to get the deal done, always attentive to the market and changing situations to get the best transfers possible for Iraola moving forward.
The switch will see Araujo cover two key problem areas, as he is capable of featuring as a centre-back and as a right-back. The two positions have faced injury issues, particularly in preseason, though options to bring players in there have been limited.
Araujo covers a short-term need without a long-term impact, as Liverpool's transfer clause is a buy option, rather than a mandatory permanent deal, meaning the situation can be assessed again next summer.
The loan also facilitates some funds to be directed elsewhere in the team, as the Reds continue to push hard for a winger in the final weeks of the market.