Chelsea have “enormous interest” in Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo and Liverpool are also keen to sign the defender, according to reports.
The Uraguay international joined Barcelona in 2018. He signed a five-year deal when he joined the club and he made his senior debut in 2019.
Araujo has been a mainstay in Barcelona’s first team since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
16 Conclusions: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United
The defender has played 53 times for the La Liga giants and his contract is due to expire in 2023.
Spanish outlet Sport (as cited by Sport Witness) are reporting that Chelsea have Araujo “in their sights” as they have “enormous interest” in him.
The report adds that Chelsea are “ready to take the next step next summer” in their attempts to sign the defender. This will come as he enters the final year of his deal at Barcelona. Liverpool are also named as admirers of the 22-year-old.
Elsewhere, Chris Sutton has backed Chelsea to beat Liverpool and Man City to win the Premier League title this season:
“At the start of the season, I tipped Manchester City to win the Premier League, but that came with an asterisk,” Sutton said.
“It was provided they completed the signing of Harry Kane which, at the time, looked likely.
“Now that a third of the season has passed, I’m leaning towards Chelsea, who did sign Romelu Lukaku. But let’s be honest, any one of Chelsea, City and Liverpool could win it.
“Those three are on another level to everyone else and I’d be surprised if any of these horses fell out of the race. For the neutral, the prospect of them making this a scrap to the bitter end is exciting.
“Even without a striker, City are capable of being crowned champions. Their performance at Chelsea in September was one of complete control.
“But I sense that this will end up being a special season for Thomas Tuchel and that it will be dark blue ribbons getting tied to that trophy in May.
“We’ve got the three-horse race and bringing up the rear. Although they look like a donkey right now, I’m saying Manchester United will finish fourth.
“The fact that Arsenal don’t have Europe this season is a massive advantage for them. Mikel Arteta and his players have got no excuses – no Thursday night games in Baku to hide behind.
“They’re even on the verge of having Arsene Wenger back at the club. He knows a thing or two about finishing fourth.
“But Ralf Rangnick is a super-manager, a visionary of the game, the godfather of gegenpressing, and I believe United are capable of sneaking into the Champions League places at the expense of fellow European hopefuls Arsenal and West Ham.”
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