I have to say, I’m starting to get a very different feeling about Ronald Araújo’s future at Liverpool.
When the Uruguayan arrived from Barcelona on loan in the summer, I think most of us saw it as exactly that — a loan.
Liverpool needed another experienced defender. Araújo needed regular football. It made sense for both sides.
But after the start he has made at Anfield, things are beginning to look rather different.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool are now seriously considering making Araújo’s move permanent, with the defender beginning to convince those at the club that he could be worth keeping beyond this season.
And Liverpool already have a very important advantage.
They have an option to buy him for €55 million.
That option is not mandatory, meaning the Reds don’t have to sign him permanently. But if Araújo keeps performing like this, I’m not sure Liverpool will want to walk away from it.
Araújo has given Liverpool something they needed
What I really like about Araújo is that he hasn’t just come in and done one job.
He has given Andoni Iraola options.
He started his Liverpool spell at centre-back, which is obviously his natural position.
But then Iraola started using him at right-back.
And suddenly, a position that had been causing Liverpool plenty of concern began to look a lot more secure.
Araújo has started at right-back against Ipswich, Fulham and Bournemouth in the Premier League, as well as against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League and Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.
That’s a lot to ask from a player who had spent most of his career as a central defender.
Yet he has looked comfortable.
More importantly, he looks like a defender.
He is aggressive.
He is physical.
He doesn’t mind putting his body on the line.
And there is something about watching him defend that Liverpool supporters immediately seem to appreciate.
We’ve seen enough of him now to understand what he brings.
And then there’s his partnership with Van Dijk
The other thing I find really interesting is what Araújo’s arrival has done for Liverpool’s centre-back situation.
Jérémy Jacquet has emerged as an exciting option alongside Virgil van Dijk, while Araújo’s ability to cover both centre-back and right-back gives Iraola another way of putting his defence together.
Liverpool’s official announcement described Araújo as an experienced Uruguay international with more than 200 Barcelona appearances and three La Liga titles to his name.
This isn’t some youngster arriving from another league hoping to find his feet.
This is a player who has already played at the highest level.
And perhaps that is why his adaptation to English football has been so quick.
Mundo Deportivo says Liverpool and Iraola are very satisfied with his start and that his versatility has been particularly valuable to the team.
I can understand why.
€55 million is a lot — but is Araújo worth it?
This is where Liverpool have a proper decision to make.
€55 million is serious money.
There is no getting away from that.
Liverpool can’t simply look at seven games and decide that everything is settled.
There are still months of the season to come.
There will be injuries, difficult games, dips in form and plenty of pressure.
But the early signs are certainly encouraging.
And there is another factor I wouldn’t ignore.
Araújo is only 27.
Liverpool wouldn’t be signing an experienced defender for one or two seasons. If everything went well, they could potentially have a top-level defender who could remain an important part of the squad for years.
And if he is genuinely keen to stay at Liverpool, that makes the situation even more interesting.
The player came to England looking for more football after his opportunities at Barcelona became more limited. Mundo Deportivo reports that he has adapted quickly and is increasingly becoming an important part of Iraola’s plans.
You can understand why he might want to stay.
He is playing.
He’s playing important games.
He’s playing in the Premier League.
And he’s already becoming popular with the supporters.
I think Liverpool have found themselves with a problem they didn’t expect
And it’s a good problem to have.
When Araújo arrived, I don’t think many Liverpool supporters were thinking about a permanent transfer.
Now?
I think plenty will be.
I’ve certainly changed my mind.
The idea of Araújo returning to Barcelona at the end of the season suddenly doesn’t feel quite as appealing as it did when he first arrived.
He’s shown that he can play centre-back.
He’s shown that he can play right-back.
He’s shown that he can handle the physical side of English football.
And, perhaps most importantly, he looks like he actually fits what Liverpool need.
That €55m option is sitting there waiting for Liverpool.
They don’t have to make the decision today.
They can watch him for the rest of the season and see how he develops.
But if Araújo continues playing at this level, the decision could become increasingly obvious.
Because Liverpool may have thought they were borrowing a defender from Barcelona for a season.
They might just have found a permanent Liverpool player.
And if he keeps putting in performances like the ones we’ve seen so far, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if that €55 million option gets activated.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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