'Genuine truth': Liverpool can complete deal for €60m Barcelona star

Liverpool’s need for a new centre-back has increased dramatically in the last few days.

Giovanni Leoni, a big-money signing from Parma last summer, injured his ACL on debut - meaning the 18-year-old Italian will be missing for up to a year.

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That injury blow compounds Liverpool’s problems in the position - leaving Arne Slot with only three senior options in central defence.

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Having sold Jarell Quansah - and missed out on Marc Guehi - Liverpool have only got Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate as established options.

Liverpool's pressing need for a centre-back

Another defender, Rhys Williams, remains at the club but only because he failed to secure a move away in summer having spent last season at Morecambe in League Two.

That’s why we’ve seen a big increase in the frequency of transfer reports linking the Premier League champions with new defenders.

Some established names - not least Guehi and Jan Paul van Hecke - have been mentioned while more up-and-coming defenders associated with an Anfield move include Dutchmen Aaron Bouwman and Youri Baas of Ajax.

"Genuine truth" in Araujo stories

However, there now appears to be “genuine truth” in links with another all-star name in defence.

That defender is Ronald Araujo - who could be made available for transfer by Barcelona in the near future. The cash-strapped Catalans have got plenty of centre-back talent at their disposal - meaning 26-year-old Araujo isn’t always first choice.

Although the Uruguayan is under contract until 2031, it’s believed that Barca would listen to offers of between €50m and €60m for the stopper.

Keep an eye on €50m-€60m rated Araujo

“I’ve done some more digging this morning and it seems there’s genuine truth to one of the names we’ve seen popping up in the press in the last few days,” writes Mark Brus in his Daily Briefing.

“One to keep an eye on is Araujo to Liverpool. He’s considering his options and Barca would probably sell for €50m-€60m [£43.7m-£52.4m].”

With Konate’s contract expiring in 2026 - and Van Dijk’s in 2027 - Liverpool will soon require a refit in central defence.

It could be a risk to entrust the position to inexperienced players and Araujo due to his very good record at Barca could be a name to fit the bill.

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