Chelsea have 'enormous interest' in signing Ronald Araujo despite his contract predicament at Barcelona, according to transfer reports on Sport (h/t The Metro).
The Blues have one of the greatest defences in Europe, but they are reportedly aiming to strengthen it. Uruguayan international Araujo is the most recent player to be connected with them. The Blaugrana defender joined the club two years ago. He's made 53 appearances for them since then, although he's been linked with a move to England. The 22-year-old is in the final two years of his deal and is now earning less than the majority of the Catalan club's players. Barcelona wants to bind him to a new contract, but they are concerned that a rich offer from a foreign club would tempt him away from the Nou Camp. Barcelona are concerned that Ronald Araujo could be enticed away from the club by an English club. Chelsea and Liverpool are both interested in signing the defender, and the Blues must be mindful of the Merseysiders' pursuit.
Chelsea may have more than enough skill at the back right now, but there could be a shortage in the near future. According to Goal (h/t The Express), Antonio Rudiger is more likely than ever to leave the club due to a contract standoff.
Andreas Christensen is also in the final year of his contract, and he may go in the summer for free. Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva are in comparable positions. There's no way of knowing how many defenders will leave at the end of the season.
Chelsea are 'very interested' in signing Barcelona's Ronald Araujo. As a result, planning ahead of time is a smart tactic. Furthermore, Araujo's physical attributes, such as his 6'2 stature, may make him a good fit for our club. In a perfect scenario, we'd add him to our current squad without losing any of our current players to other clubs, because allowing him time to acclimatise to a new league would be advantageous. However, if the need arises, the Uruguayan may be a viable choice for us. Ramires, Oscar, David Luiz, Willian, and Thiago Silva are just a few examples of South American stars that have always shone for us. Furthermore, with only a year left on his contract next summer, the Blues may have some bargaining power.
However, only time will tell if the midfielder refuses a new contract with Barcelona in favour of joining the London club.
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