Manchester United are in the market for at least one new centre-half this summer. And the good news is that the market is chock-full of them, if young, technically-gifted talents are your cup of tea.
Just take a moment to consider some of the names reportedly on Manchester United’s summer wishlist. Not only Jarrad Branthwaite but also Marc Guehi, Giorgio Scalvini, Goncalo Inacio, Antonio Silva and Leny Yoro. If the Red Devils want someone a little more experienced, then there is also Gleison Bremer of Juventus.
So with Barcelona making it clear that they have no plans to cash in on Ronald Araujo in the coming months – the Uruguayan another who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford – United fans will be losing no sleep given the wide array of alternative targets up for grabs.
Barcelona president lays down billion euro demand
Araujo, Barcelona president Joan Laporta explains, is one of a number of Camp Nou stars who have been the subject of big money ‘offers’, alongside left-back Alejandro Balde, midfield trio Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, and the box-crashing dynamo Fermin Lopez.
Anyone pursuing Araujo, the president says, is wasting their time unless they are willing to slap down ‘a figure close to one billion euros’.
Transfers at the top level may have moved into silly money territory in the post Neymar-to-PSG era, but, rest assured, Araujo’s billion euro release clause will not be triggered any time soon.
“We don’t want to sell (our star players),” Laporta explains on El Podcast de President.
“Araujo is very much part of the team,” he adds to Mundo Deportivo, playing down concerns over the Uruguay international’s contract situation. “Sometimes, communication doesn’t quite hit the mark, especially in negotiations.
“I believe this has been resolved to some extent as there was some misunderstanding regarding everything we had planned for Ronald.
“Absolutely, yes (I am optimistic he is staying).”
New defender a priority for Manchester United
In a further boost to Barcelona’s plans, Araujo clearly has no interest in a change of scenery. A key part of Xavi Hernandez’s 2023 La Liga-winning roster confirms that he is ‘happy in Barcelona’.
Man United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, meanwhile, insists that the Red Devils will be placing potential and promise above big names and big reputations during Ineos’ first summer in control at Old Trafford.
If those transfer targets can boast a proven track record in the Premier League – such as Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise – then all the better.