Liverpool keeping tabs on Barcelona centre-back

Liverpool are certainly stacked in the centre-back position, however, it has emerged today that the reds are closely monitoring Barcelona’s  22-year-old Uruguayan Ronald Araujo.

According to ESPN, Araujo is stalling contract extension talks with the Spanish club, and Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United are ready to pounce in the case that he chooses to look elsewhere.

Araujo has started eight of his 14 appearances for Barcelona so far this campaign but with the Spanish giants’ current financial issues, he could be flogged due to his high wage demands.

The report states that Barcelona are very keen to tie down the 22-year-old with the club seeing the youngster as a future star centre-back under their new boss and former midfield star Xavi.

This news will come as a surprise to most Reds, with Jurgen Klopp currently having an array of centre-backs to choose from; Virgil Van Djik, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez are all vying for spots in the starting XI.

It’s the last name mentioned above, however, whose future at the club may determine whether Liverpool make the move for Ronald Araujo.

Gomez is struggling to get any real game time this season and his head could be turned with Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa reportedly looking to bring him in to bolster their squad.

If Gomez were to leave, then Araujo would be a suitable replacement, although any Liverpool fan who has watched Gomez grow as a player over the years knows that losing his clear quality could prove to be a costly mistake.