CRISIS AVERTED? Liverpool agree shock deal to sign Barcelona star Ronald Araujo on loan as Andoni Iraola gets transfer wish after double Reds injury blow

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo to remedy their defensive injury crisis. Araujo, 27, will join the Reds on loan with an option to buy.

The defender's move to Anfield has come from nowhere, as he was expected to continue at the Camp Nou after signing a new contract until 2031 last year. But Barcelona boss Hansi Flick sanctioned his exit after Liverpool lodged their interest.

Andoni Iraola has been looking to sign a defender in light of injuries to both Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley. Although Araujo prefers to play as a centre-back, he can play also at right-back, providing cover for both positions which Liverpool lack depth in.

The Uruguay international is now set to have a medical with Liverpool before linking up with his new team-mates which could be as soon as this weekend. Araujo has spent eight years at Barcelona, making 213 appearances and scoring 14 goals.

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The 6ft 3in right-footer has also won eight trophies, including three La Liga titles. His career under Flick has been blighted by health problems, struggling to nail down a place in the German's starting line-up.

Araujo missed the first half of the 2024-25 season due to a serious hamstring injury, and last season, he took a month out after being granted a leave of absence to 'take care of himself emotionally'. The decision came after he received a red card against Chelsea in a Champions League fixture.

"I'd been dealing with anxiety for a year and a half that turned into depression, and I was playing like that," Araujo revealed to Mundo Deportivo. "That doesn't help, because on the field you don't really feel like yourself.

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"You know your worth and what you can contribute on the field, and when I wasn't feeling well, I knew something was wrong. That day I realised that was it, that I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me."

Araujo could make his debut for Liverpool when Iraola's side travel to Newcastle in their Premier League opener on Sunday, August 23. Prior to that, Liverpool will face Monaco and Como in pre-season friendlies at Anfield.