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Moises Llorens, Barcelona correspondent
Barcelona will take into account letting Ronald Araújo go away in the event that they obtain a suggestion near €100 million ($109m) for the centre-back, sources have informed ESPN.
Bayern Munich expressed an curiosity in Araújo in January and sources at Barcelona imagine the German champions will return with a suggestion in the summertime.
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One other supply informed ESPN at the least one massive Premier League membership are additionally monitoring the state of affairs and are able to make a transfer if Barça do lastly encourage bids.
Araújo, 25, final renewed his contract with Barça in 2022, penning a deal till 2026 with a €1 billion ($1.1b) launch clause, an indication that the membership thought-about him a key a part of their long-term future.
The Uruguay worldwide stays an everyday within the aspect, however Barça are conscious they want to lift cash this summer season and he is likely one of the gamers within the squad with the largest market.
“My future is determined by the membership,” Araújo informed reporters after Barça booked their place within the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Napoli.
“Everybody is aware of that I’m glad at Barça. And I’m actually grateful to [coach] Xavi [Hernández] for the religion he has positioned in me.”
Araújo performed 90 minutes within the victory over the Italian champions, however the actuality is that, following the emergence of 17-year-old Pau Cubarsí, Barça are nicely lined in the course of defence.
Along with Araújo and Cubarsí, additionally they have Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen and Iñigo Martínez competing for the centre-back place.
Barça president Joan Laporta mentioned final week he “would hand Araujo a lifetime contract” if it was as much as him.
Nonetheless, sources have admitted to ESPN there’s an inner debate about the potential of having to switch an vital participant to lift funds.
It’s a conundrum the membership have usually confronted lately. In 2022, they reluctantly opened the door for Frenkie de Jong to go away the membership, negotiating a switch with Manchester United, though on that event the Dutchman stood agency in his want to remain in Spain.
The membership will search much less drastic options first and hope to obtain provides for different gamers who are usually not as integral to their plans for subsequent season and past.
Nonetheless, they’re acutely aware that on account of his age and his performances, Araújo is considered one of their most beneficial property they usually could must let him go if they do not discover different monetary options.
Barça are at the moment in extra of their €204m LaLiga-imposed annual spending cap by nearly €200m and the league president Javier Tebas mentioned this month that they are going to be compelled to make massive selections this summer season to keep away from breaching their restrict.
“Barça have choices on the desk that the membership hierarchy can take in the event that they imagine it can present options to [their financial problems],” Tebas mentioned at an occasion in London.
“They’ve two or three high stage gamers that they may switch. That may resolve an enormous a part of the issue.”
Barça have beforehand offered property, together with a proportion of their future tv rights, to assist stability their accounts, however on this event an enormous cash switch would be the solely resolution.
The state of affairs stems partially from the to date unsuccessful sale of 10% of Barça Studios.
The German funding fund Libero agreed to pay €40m for the stake, however they haven’t but complied with the settlement even if the membership prolonged the fee deadline till final December.