Liverpool has made a move to sign Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona, with the 27-year-old viewed as a player who can offer added depth at both center-back and right-back
Barcelona center-back Ronald Araujo during a Champions League game.
Barcelona center-back Ronald Araujo during a Champions League game.(Image: Xavi Bonilla/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Liverpool is set to sign Ronald Araujo on loan for the 2026/27 season after Barcelona sanctioned an exit for the Uruguayan center-back.
But with Liverpool said to have a buy option worth around $63 million ($47 million) at the end of the campaign, Araujo would have to break a longstanding transfer trend to turn a loan into a permanent deal.
In recent history, the likes of Arthur Melo, Ozan Kabak, Steven Caulker and Javier Manquillo have all moved to Anfield on a temporary basis, with none joining permanently. Each has been viewed as a short-term solution, though Araujo will hope to make more of an impact.
With Liverpool lacking defensive depth after Joe Gomez's injury, the Reds needed more options. Jeremy Jacquet is yet to play in pre-season while Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from an ACL issue sustained last September.
Meanwhile, at full-back, where Araujo has also played before, Conor Bradley is still injured having been out since January.
The trend of loans not being made permanent extends beyond Liverpool too, however.
Ronald Araujo battles for the ball with Bradley Barcola
Ronald Araujo battles for the ball with Bradley Barcola(Image: 2024 Anadolu)
At Barcelona, the decision was taken to sign Anthony Gordon rather than Marcus Rashford, who had been relatively successful at the Camp Nou, even though it was for a higher fee.
Joao Cancelo and Philippe Coutinho also both moved to Bayern Munich on loan in recent years, with neither ending up joining the Bundesliga giant permanently.
"I saw him this morning and I said goodbye and I think he was very happy and Liverpool is also a fantastic club," Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said on Sunday.
"I wish him all the best because he deserves it. He’s a fantastic guy and fantastic player and was a great captain."
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Speaking after his side's friendly fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Udinese, Flick added: "I think Ronald is a great guy and a fantastic player.
"I think our style of play, that we want to play, is a little bit different. He's a player that has a lot of speed, he's physical and very strong and also with the ball he's quite good.
"We couldn't include him like I wanted and also I think he wants to make something new. You know it more than me because in the past, something has happened, so this affected him."