The closing of the transfer window may have stopped the rich vultures of European football from circling around Barcelona’s assets; however, in the midst of the winter months, those birds of prey will come circling again.
The January transfer window provides clubs competing on all fronts with an opportunity to strengthen their squads and push for greater success. However, the ongoing delays to Camp Nou’s redevelopment could further strain Barcelona’s finances, potentially forcing the club to place one of its prized assets on the market or reluctantly accept an offer from Europe’s financial powerhouses.
Will Barcelona really cash in on one of their crown jewels midway through the season?
According to SPORT, the Premier League teams of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham are all interested in signing Ronald Araujo come January for a fee of €50-60 million. The price for the Uruguayan defender can be seen as enticing but his experience and power will be a big loss unless an immediate replacement can be found.
Liverpool seem the strongest choice for the Barcelona vice-captain as they seem resigned to losing Ibrahima Konate this summer and may be forced to find a replacement for the French star. His contract is up for renewal in the summer of 2026 and Real Madrid are reportedly sniffing for his signature.
Chelsea could provide Araujo with a clear path into the starting XI, with their defence in flux due to ongoing injuries to Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill. Strengthening the backline is crucial if the Blues want to unleash their attacking firepower and mount a serious challenge for domestic and European glory this season.
A move to Tottenham now looks increasingly unlikely, but a swap involving Christian Romero or Micky Van der Ven could sweeten the deal for Barcelona.
The rotation of the centre backs has been a theme for Hansi Flick this season as he has been forced to look elsewhere from the formality of Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarasi, chopping and changing between the four centre-backs at his disposal for the two starting positions.
He watched from the bench as his team fell to defeat against PSG under the bright lights of the Champions League, with no injury reported, it’s a bitter blow for a player who would’ve dreamed of making his mark on such a grand stage. Matchday 2 came and went, and so did his stage to shine and a chance for his hunger for a Barcelona career to stretch to his retirement.
Whether the Uruguayan will become the next South American star to make his mark in the Premier League is still uncertain, but one thing is clear: Hansi Flick will be determined to keep his top players firing all season long.