There has been a rather surprising change in the FC Barcelona defense as the center-back Ronald Araujo left the club to join the Premier League side Liverpool on [a season-long loan, with a purchase option](https://barcanewsnetwork.com/barcelona-set-buy-option-price-for-ronald-araujo-deal-with-liverpool/). This move has been rather surprising, as the defender had repeatedly expressed his desire to stay and succeed at the Blaugrana club.
However, he had lost significant prominence in the last few seasons, and even with his departure, Hansi Flick will have several other options for the center-back positions, with Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, and Alvaro Cortes all being natural center-backs, while other players like Jules Kounde and Rodri, once signed, can also play in this position.
Still, [MARCA](https://www.marca.com/futbol/barcelona/2026/08/09/araujo-viaja-liverpool-barca-sondea-mercado-centrales.html) reports that the German coach is not too satisfied with his options after Araujo’s departure, and Flick and Deco are now assessing whether they should go into the market to replace the Uruguayan.
The Portuguese official has already begun scouting some possible names, but the coach will make the final decision in this regard. His decision can be impacted by several factors, especially the club’s need to reinforce other areas of the team with greater urgency, with the signings of players like Julian Alvarez and Rodri.
One of the center-backs who was already being linked with Barcelona even before Araujo’s departure was the Spaniard Aymeric Laporte. However, there are no negotiations underway for his signing yet, even though both Flick and Deco like him a lot and there was also an informal meeting between the defender, his family, and Laporta during the World Cup.
Other options like Cristian Romero, Castello Lukeba, William Saliba, and Lucas Herrington have also been linked with Barcelona lately, and it remains to be seen whether Deco and Flick will choose any of these if they ultimately decide to sign another center-back.