Premier League club emerges as a viable suitor for Julian Araujo
- FC Barcelona are set to finalize the sale of defender Julian Araujo to Bournemouth for a €10M fee.
- The sale might seem inconsequential, but it grants the board more freedom to fill out the squad with quality players.
By Rohan Borges
While the former Las Palmas player was looked at as a potential filler for Barca’s vacant left-back position, he was unable to break into the first team. Barcelona informed the 22-year-old that they would look to facilitate his transfer before the transfer deadline on August 30th, and it appears the club has found a suitor.
Premier League club AFC Bournemouth has made contact with Barcelona for a permanent transfer of the Mexican-international, offering an initial package worth around €10M, first reported by Fabrizio Romano.
Barcelona have countered by asking for a sell-on clause to retain a percentage of any potential future transfer. However, negotiations between the two sides are ongoing, with a deal set to be sealed in the coming days.
Given Araujo’s departure, Barcelona will be left especially thin at the left back position. Manager Hansi Flick is reportedly keen on bringing back Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo on a team-friendly contract, with the player longing for a permanent move to the Blaugrana as well.
Barcelona have a short window of opportunity before their La Liga opener on August 18th vs. Valencia. Substantial upgrades are still necessary, and the club has renewed freedom to spend on players that fit Hansi Flick’s vision for the upcoming campaign.