Liverpool has been told it has made a "very clever" signing in Ronald Araujo, with Glen Johnson claiming the Reds' season-long loan deal for the Barcelona captain could have saved the club up to $100 million
Andoni Iraola is preparing for his first Premier League season in charge of Liverpool
Andoni Iraola is preparing for his first Premier League season in charge of Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has been informed that its acquisition of Ronald Araujo represents a "very clever" piece of business, with his season-long loan from Barcelona potentially saving the club as much as $100 million.
The Reds moved for the Barcelona captain following Joe Gomez's addition to an injury list already featuring Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley. While Jeremy Jacquet has returned to training and is expected to feature in Sunday's friendly double-header against Como, Araujo's arrival came after Andoni Iraola found himself severely short of options at both center-back and right-back.
Under the terms of the agreement struck with Barcelona, Liverpool will cover the Uruguayan international's wages and retain the option to sign him permanently at the end of the campaign for £47 million ($63 million).
By that point, it is anticipated that Jacquet, 21, and Leoni, 19, will have cemented their places as first-team regulars, which is precisely why the question of whether the Reds will make Araujo's move permanent remains very much up in the air.
Nevertheless, Glen Johnson is convinced it is a shrewd piece of dealings.
The former England right-back, who made 200 appearances for the Reds between 2009 and 2016, told the Liverpool Echo on behalf of SeatPin: "Time will tell with the loan deal for Ronald Araujo, but I think it's a very clever signing.
Ronald Araujo has joined Liverpool on loan
Ronald Araujo has joined Liverpool on loan(Image: Getty Images)
"Liverpool could have quite easily gone out and dropped £50 million to £100 million ($67 million to $135 million) on a new center-back, but they've shrewdly signed a great player on loan.
"He looks like a top defender who could thrive in the physicality of the Premier League, but it doesn't always work out that way.
"That's why I think it's such a great piece of business by Liverpool. If he turns out to be a great player, they can sign him permanently at the end of his loan. But to me, it's a risk-free deal which provides them great cover in a position they are desperate to fill right now.
"I like the fact they haven't panic-bought someone, they've plugged a gap in a sensible way."
Araujo, Jacquet, Leoni and Gomez will be competing for a spot at the core of the Reds' backline alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk.
The modern-day Liverpool legend celebrated his 35th birthday last month and has now entered the final 12 months of his contract.
Alongside Jacquet and Araujo, the Reds have secured the signature of winger Victor Munoz this summer. Nevertheless, they remain determined to strengthen their attacking flanks by completing a substantial transfer with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola.
Liverpool begins its Premier League campaign with an away fixture against Newcastle on Sunday, August 23.