Liverpool has secured Araujo, so will Barcola be next?

Liverpool's most recent summer transfer deal involves borrowing central defender Ronald Araujo from Barcelona. Yet all eyes remain on Andoni Iraola's side, anticipating the blockbuster acquisition of Bradley Barcola.

The need for Liverpool to reinforce their central defense was a recurring topic throughout last season under Arne Slot. However, the neglect of this requirement resulted in Liverpool conceding 53 goals in the Premier League.

Bolstering the defense with Araujo

Liverpool only truly pushed for a new center-back when the situation became dire beyond recognition. Ibrahima Konate moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer, Joe Gomez suffered a muscle injury in a friendly against Sunderland, while Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet were still not ready to return immediately. Virgil van Dijk just made his comeback in a friendly against Monaco, but Liverpool cannot rely on a 35-year-old defender like him to grind through match after match. It would be hard to accept Iraola starting the Premier League campaign with a makeshift center-back pairing.

That's why Liverpool had to rush to loan Araujo from Barcelona with an option to buy for £47 million at the end of the season. The Uruguayan center-back is the ideal partner for Van Dijk at the heart of the defense, thanks to his experience playing for Barcelona. The Dutch defender will be pleased to pair with a seasoned veteran like Araujo instead of an 18-year-old youngster like Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who played against Monaco: "Anyone who comes to Liverpool will be welcomed." This is understandable, as Ndukwe hasn't yet obtained a work permit in England, and even if he does, the Austrian center-back will likely need a loan move to gain experience. Araujo doesn't need that. The 27-year-old requires an environment like Liverpool to reignite his motivation after facing professional, injury, and psychological issues at Barcelona last season. Injuries also cost him the chance to participate in the 2026 World Cup with Uruguay.

Araujo's addition hasn't diminished Van Dijk's influence at Anfield this season. The 6,121 minutes he played for both Liverpool and the Netherlands last season reflect his remarkably fit condition at age 35. The Dutch center-back will remain not only the top choice professionally but also a leader wearing the captain's armband in every Liverpool match this season. The question for Iraola is to quickly identify the ideal new partner for Van Dijk among three candidates: Leoni, Jacquet, and Araujo.

Waiting for the Barcola bombshell

Araujo will be a significant upgrade for Liverpool's defense, but Barcola remains the dream of Anfield fans for the return of a Premier League title contender. Mohamed Salah has moved to Trabzonspor, leaving a void that won't be easy for anyone to fill immediately at Anfield.

Theoretically, Barcola is not a direct replacement for Salah, as the 23-year-old tends to play as a left winger, while Salah built his reputation on the right flank. What Barcola can offer to ease Liverpool fans' nostalgia for Salah is his pace and ability to beat defenders, posing a threat from the wing position.

Barcola's enthusiasm for Liverpool is palpable. He doesn't want to continue playing a backup role at PSG. This explains why the 23-year-old forward has refused to extend his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2028. So what's holding Liverpool back from making a formal offer to PSG, despite having reached a personal agreement with Barcola? Iraola's team is waiting for PSG to lower their £145 million asking price for Barcola. This could happen once Luis Enrique's side completes deals for Mika Godts from Ajax and Ferran Torres from Barcelona. Journalist Ben Jacobs suggests that if PSG finalizes these two transfers, Liverpool will soon submit a suitable bid to secure Barcola.

The possibility of Arsenal entering the race for Barcola cannot be ruled out. However, Liverpool still has a clearer path to signing Barcola, as they need a piece to help Iraola complete his attack for the season. For now, the former Bournemouth boss can worry less about his defense, as Araujo reduces the disparity among options for the center-back position at Anfield.