€40m vice-captain offered to Liverpool
The Reds are about to head into the season with only TWO fully-fit centre-backs and there are question marks over the future of one of them.
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Virgil van Dijk has been secured to a contract until 2027 but his partner Ibrahima Konate is only under contract until 2026. With no sign of a breakthrough, it means the club could be left woefully short of viable central defensive options in less than 12 months.
Factor in the injury to Joe Gomez - third-choice at the outset of preseason - and you can see how centre-back could potentially become an issue.
Barcelona turn to Liverpool
Recently it's been suggested that Barca could be forced into selling Ronald Araujo in order to make space in the budget. Araujo, 26, is under contract until 2021 but could be offloaded for a bargain €40m fee this summer.
Liverpool have been previously linked with the Uruguayan stopper - with the player being described as a favourite of Arne Slot. And with uncertainty over Konate as well as Gomez's injury - this could be a unique opportunity to strike.
And Defensa Central reckons the Reds could be preferred bidders - giving the Premier League champions a big advantage over other suitors.
Barca don't want to sell Araujo to Real Madrid
Those interested clubs are reported to now include Real Madrid and Barca fear ANOTHER Luis Figo-style transfer happening. That's why club president Joan Laporta would rather sell Araujo to one of his Premier League suitors - namely Liverpool.
'The Barça president could sell his second captain, clearly forced by the debts that are drowning Barcelona,' the report reads. 'Laporta doesn't want another Figo case and is negotiating with Liverpool to keep him from joining Real Madrid.
'This explains why Joan Laporta wants the player to go to another club, and in the Premier League there are several who are willing to put more than 40 million euros for the Uruguayan, among them Liverpool.'
Konate to Real, Araujo to Liverpool?
Of course Real are among the contenders to sign Konate either on a free transfer or else for a fee this summer. And so we could have a domino effect involving the France international and Araujo looming into view.
If Liverpool sell Konate to Real Madrid this summer - for €50m or so - it means Los Blancos do not have to go chasing Araujo. That in turn would reduce the risk of embarrassing Laporta - who would otherwise have to sell one of his vice-captains to Real Madrid.
Instead Liverpool - with a vacancy at centre-back and money to spend - could move for Araujo. Let's see how this one plays out over the next few weeks.
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