Manchester United are prepared to pay double the necessary fee to sign Barcelona ace Ronald Araujo as a potential replacement for Harry Maguire
The arrival of the defender would place Maguire under further pressure after an already difficult season. The England international has been woefully out of form this campaign and has come under huge criticism from his own fans.
United have struggled in the Premier League this year and it even led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer getting sacked in November, but the club’s fortunes are yet to turn around. Ralf Rangnick joined as interim manager until the end of the season.
But the Red Devils look no closer to landing Champions League football despite bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane in the summer. Going forward, United have looked toothless at times but it is in defence where there are most worries — particularly over their captain Maguire.
It has led to talk of replacements with several targets already being linked with a move to Old Trafford. That includes Barcelona star Araujo, who has been in fine form this season under Xavi.
The Uruguay international most recently scored a thumping header against Real Madrid in El Clasico, while doing an expert job keeping the in-form Vinicius Jr quiet. Along with Gerard Pique, the duo have rediscovered their form in the Barca backline to give them a fighting chance of finishing in the top four after a miserable start to the season.
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According to ABC, via Sport Witness, United have made an attempt to prise the centre-back away from Catalonia and they are prepared to break the bank. They report that the club have already approached Araujo about a transfer this summer.
The Old Trafford outfit want to take advantage of the growing concern over contract talks between Barcelona and the player, where an agreement is yet to be found. The 23-year-old will see his terms expire in the summer of 2023, less than 18 months away.
It means that Barca might have to sell this summer if an agreement over a new deal is not made as they risk losing him for nothing. Araujo is a big fan of Xavi’s project and intends to stay but only if it means he is paid what he believes he is worth.
Currently, the Uruguayan has been offered a salary of £3.3million-a-year (€4m), but that has been considered too low as he wants parity with the likes of Pedri and Ansu Fati, who all signed new contracts recently. ABC report that United have already told him they are prepared to pay him more than double that amount to snub Barcelona and move there instead.
That would total more than £6.6m a year. For context, Maguire earns just under £10m every year, while Varane is on £17.5m every year - which works out to around £340,000-a-week. Victor Lindelof, who has been dropped to third-choice would earn just less than Araujo should he make the move to Old Trafford on £6.2m-a-year.
ABC further report that while another meeting is planned between Barcelona and the defender’s agent, Flavio Perchman, the club do not intend on raising their offer much more. That would suggest that the door has been opened to United over a potential transfer this summer.
