- TBR Football Exclusive with Graeme Bailey
Manchester United and Chelsea are both keen on improving their squads this summer and TBR Football understands contact has been made with a top La Liga star.
The two English giants have had poor seasons overall and both Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino want to improve the team this summer.
FFP spending restrictions mean that any purchases will need to be well thought out.
However, that doesn’t mean both United and Chelsea won’t be spending at all and according to TBR Football sources, a Barcelona star is firmly on both clubs’ radars.
Manchester United and Chelsea keen on Barcelona’s Ronaldo Araujo
TBR Football understands that Chelsea and Manchester United have asked to be kept informed of Ronald Araujo’s situation at Barcelona.
Araujo’s current deal is due to expire in 2026 and Barca have already touched base with his agents about fresh terms. Bayern Munich looked closely at Araujo in January and they are understood to still be keen on the Uruguayan star.
TBR Football understands that Xavi – who has confirmed he is remaining with Barca beyond this season – sees Araujo is a key part of his defence going forward and would prefer to keep him and president Joan Laporta is keen to extend him.
However, TBR Football understands that some at Barca believe cashing on on Araujo would be the sensible course of action and other clubs are now taking an interest, not just Bayern. TBR Football can reveal that Chelsea and Manchester United have spoken to intermediaries about Araujo and should contract talks fail, they could very well hold an interest in the 25-year-old.
Arsenal and Newcastle have also previously been linked to Araujo.
Rio Ferdinand wants Araujo at Old Trafford
The Barcelona star is certainly ‘up there’ in terms of players a lot of big clubs want to sign.
As mentioned here, the likes of Bayern, United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle being keen suggests you’re doing something right in your career.
Araujo is an ‘extraordinary‘ talent and former United defender Rio Ferdinand has even said he’s the one he wants his old club to sign if possible.
Answering a question from a fan previously on his FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand admitted Araujo is one he’d like to see in Manchester.
“Marquinhos, I would sign, and the Uruguayan at Barcelona,” Ferdinand said.
If things go the right way, then Ferdinand might just end up getting his wish here.
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