Liverpool are close to completing a loan with option to buy for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
The 27-year-old is preparing to travel to link up with Liverpool on Sunday ahead of signing his contract and meeting his new team-mates.
Araujo wanted to go because after talks with coach Hansi Flick it was apparent he would not be guaranteed regular starts and he believes he will find greater opportunity to do so under Andoni Iraola at Liverpool.
The Spanish champions are working to offload a couple of players as they look to upgrade their squad. They are focused on signing Rodri from Manchester City and still want to strengthen their own centre-back options and at striker.
Araujo will say farewell to Barcelona team-mates on Saturday prior to heading for Merseyside on Sunday.
The Uruguay international gives Liverpool experience and vital defensive cover as he is able to play at centre back and right-back.
Joe Gomez suffered a muscle injury in Liverpool’s opening pre-season game, while teenage centre back Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from an ACL injury, leaving captain Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool’s only fully fit senior centre back.
Liverpool have agreed a surprise deal to sign Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo on loan
The Uruguayan led Barcelona to the LaLiga title last term, but is set for a move to Anfield
The Uruguay international joined Barcelona B in 2018 before being promoted to the first team in 2019.
He has made more than 200 appearances for Barcelona but finds himself down the pecking order in Spain, with the likes of Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin ahead of him.
Araujo has therefore taken up the opportunity to move to the Premier League, with more than two weeks still to go until Liverpool’s first game of the competitive season.
The 6ft 3in central defender was at the World Cup with Uruguay and was sent off when Barcelona lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the Champions League in November.
He didn’t play a minute for his country in North America, though, as he was injured in training and didn’t recover in time to feature before Marcelo Bielsa’s side were knocked out in the group stage.
The Reds will face Monaco on Sunday in pre-season and then Cesc Fabregas’s Como a week later, before starting their campaign against Newcastle on August 23.
Araujo will become the third major arrival at Anfield after the signings of Jacquet and winger Victor Munoz.
Liverpool remain in talks for Paris Saint-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye.
