Chelsea have now joined the race to sign a “top-class” defender, who’s also being targeted by Liverpool, with Enzo Maresca suffering an injury crisis at centre-back.
Blues struggling for options at centre-back
Remarkably, the Blues managed to sign off with a 2-1 win against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool before the international break, despite being very light on options at centre-back, with both Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong being withdrawn due to injury.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill were also absent, with the latter player suffering an ACL injury back in August, which led to widespread suggestions that Maresca’s side should enter the market for a new centre-back.
However, having spent so heavily improving other areas of the squad, BlueCo ultimately didn’t sanction a move for another new defender, which may be a decision they are now starting to rue, given the scale of the injury crisis at Stamford Bridge.
Consequently, it would make sense for the west Londoners to enter the market for a new centre-back in the January transfer window, and they have now set their sights on a Liverpool target.
That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, in a report from Football Insider, which states Chelsea have now joined the race for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, who has a whopping £870m release clause in his contract.
O’Rourke goes on to describe Araujo as “top class”. However, he does not believe there is much chance of a transfer going through in January, saying: “I don’t see any move in January for Araujo.
“Obviously, I don’t think Barcelona would want to weaken their squad midway through the season as they’ll have ambitions to win La Liga again and to go far in the Champions League this season.”
Araujo could take Chelsea's defence to next level
At 26-years-old, the Uruguayan may be about to enter the prime of his career, and he has recently started to improve himself at the highest level, making eight Champions League appearances as Barca went on to reach the semi-final last season.
The Barcelona defender, on €240,385 per week, has remained an important player this season, making six La Liga appearances, and pundit Jack Collins has previously suggested he has the leadership abilities to one day captain the Spanish side.
Not only that, but the Rivera-born defender is dominant in the air, placing in the 97th percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs, while also ranking in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals.
As such, Araujo could be a solid addition to Chelsea’s backline, so they should undoubtedly try to get a deal done in January, but Barca remain in a strong negotiating position, as the Uruguay international is tied down until 2031.