Liverpool are thought to be eyeing a move for a highly-rated player in a possible swap deal with Luis Diaz this summer, according to a new transfer update.
Liverpool stumble in Premier League title push
The Reds slipped up in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, losing 3-2 away to Fulham, following a bitterly disappointing performance at Craven Cottage.
Alexis Mac Allister’s brilliant opening goal seemingly set Liverpool on their way to another vital three points, but some shocking defending from Andy Robertson and co. along with a generally lacklustre performance saw them 3-1 down at half-time, and they deservedly lost.
It means Arne Slot’s side still need 11 more points to guarantee the Premier League title this season, and while success should still clearly come their way next month, they aren’t always making life easy for themselves at the moment.
Liverpool haven’t quite looked themselves for some time now, crashing out of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain and losing the EFL Cup final to Newcastle United. While league victories have been recorded against both Southampton and Everton, neither were entirely convincing, and it has heightened the need for summer signings.
Liverpool eyeing Barcelona star Araujo in possible Diaz swap deal
According to Revelo [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo at the end of the season as key figures at Anfield are big fans of the player, who earns about £164,000 per week in Catalonia.
He could cost around £64m via a release clause in his contract, but the fee will rise drastically if they cannot agree a deal before the summer.
While a swap deal involving Diaz is far from definite, it is considered a possibility, with the Colombian linked with a move to the Catalan giants plenty of times in recent months and sporting director Deco a big fan.
A new centre-back is a must for Liverpool this summer, given Virgil van Dijk’s age, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez’s injury records, and the fact that Jarell Quansah is still young. In Araujo, the Reds could have a fantastic option, with Barca legend Carles Puyol paying him enormous praise in the past.
“He’s having a very good season, he’s in extraordinary condition. I’ll stick with what they’ve told me, because I don’t know him personally, but he’s very professional, humble, he always gives his best in training and matches and that’s where his performance is. Right now, if he’s not the best central defender in the world, he’s among the top three. He’s young, he still has room for improvement and I think we have a very good central defender at Barcelona for many years to come.”
Araujo has endured a frustrating season for Barcelona, with injuries restricting him to only six starts in La Liga, but the 26-year-old should still be considered a leading option for Liverpool.
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Liverpool have some huge calls to make this summer to build on their success in the Premier League.
A swap deal involving Diaz would arguably be ideal, with doubts persisting over whether the Reds’ No.7 will ever quite become a world-class attacking player like Sadio Mane was on the left wing for so many years at Anfield.
