Araujo’s growing role gives Liverpool a summer decision

Ronald Araujo has become a regular in Liverpool’s defence since joining on loan from Barcelona, giving manager Andoni Iraola cover at right-back and centre-back as injuries have depleted his options. His growing role could leave the club weighing a £47.2m purchase option at the end of the season. [1]

The Uruguay international has started eight of Liverpool’s 10 matches under Iraola. Six of those starts came at right-back and four at centre-back. He scored his first Liverpool goal against LASK last week and assisted Dominik Szoboszlai with a backheel against Atlético Madrid, BBC Sport reports.

Conor Bradley has been out with a knee injury since January, while Jeremie Frimpong is expected to miss matches until the November international break with a muscle injury. Iraola said Araujo was willing to play wherever the team needed him and described their first conversation as “quite encouraging”.

“I am really happy here,” Araujo said, adding that his family was happy too. Asked about his future, he said it was “a bit early” to discuss it and that he was focused on playing and developing.

Liverpool did not initially plan to sign him this summer, according to BBC Sport. The report says he took a wage cut to join on loan, with an option for Liverpool to buy him for £47.2m. It describes that outcome as unlikely for now.

The decision will come amid other defensive uncertainties: the report says Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez’s contracts expire this summer, while Giovanni Leoni is recovering from an ACL injury. Liverpool also have an option to buy back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen. [1]