Ronald Araujo arrived on loan to play centre-back. He is making his name at right-back instead.
The Uruguay international has started eight games on the right flank for Liverpool since joining from Barcelona in the summer, filling a hole opened by injuries and poor form among the club’s regular full-backs. He has scored twice for Liverpool, opening the scoring with a header from a corner in the 3-0 Champions League win away to LASK in Linz on 14 October.
Now the next step is being lined up. According to a report by transfer insider Juan Jesus, picked up by Football365, Liverpool will contact Barcelona as soon as the January window opens to begin the process of making the deal permanent.
“Liverpool is planning to contact Barça this very winter to start the proceedings,” Jesus wrote on X. “The purchase option (around 55M€) can be activated in the next transfer window. At Anfield, they admire the player and are delighted with him.”
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The loan agreement signed in the summer carries a €55m (£46m) option for Liverpool to make the move permanent, and the club’s hierarchy are keen to tie up the paperwork early rather than wait for next summer.
Settling at an unfamiliar position
The right-back assignment was flagged to Araujo before he signed, and he says he has no complaints.
“I’m not going to deny that I feel more comfortable at centre-back, but at the end of the day [right-back] is not a difficult position for me,” he told reporters ahead of the Champions League tie against Villarreal on 19 October.
“Ultimately I try to give everything I can, no matter what position I am in or what the manager asks.”
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Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot at the start of the 2026-27 season, has leaned on him more than he had planned.
“It helps a lot [to have Ronald]. I think we all enjoyed watching Ronald fighting. I think he’s very good in the duels,” the Spanish manager said at the end of October.
Barcelona’s side of the ledger
Araujo left Barcelona in the summer after a difficult final period under Hansi Flick, and reports in Catalonia suggest he is reluctant to return while the German remains in charge. Barcelona have given no public indication of their stance on a sale.
Former Manchester United scout Mick Brown told TeamTalk the groundwork is already being laid at Anfield.
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“Liverpool will already be working on that deal to sign Araujo on a permanent deal, it’s already happening.”
The January transfer window in England opens on 1 January.
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