Barcelona on alert: Liverpool would go for Ronald Araujo if they fail to renew Van Dijk

Liverpool will go for a 'top' center-back next summer. The doubts about Virgil van Dijk's continuity (his contract ends in June) lead the 'red' team to comb the market for alternatives, and coach Arne Slot would have already chosen the ideal center-back to replace the Dutchman. Recent reports indicate the interest of those from Merseyside in Ronald Araujo, despite the recent renewal of the Uruguayan defender with FC Barcelona.

The azulgrana '4' reserved an ascending release clause to negotiate his exit from the club starting next summer, as long as he receives an attractive offer. Araujo's release price will be 65 million euros in the next transfer window, a value that will progressively increase by around 15 'kilos' in each transfer window. Thus, the price for the player from Rivera will be 80M € in January and 95M € in the summer of 2026, according to the renewal agreed last month.

For Liverpool, the 65 'kilos' would not be a problem, nor would offering him a contract of around 10M € net per year. The 'reds' also have pending renewals for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, two key players who are likely to leave for 'free' after a successful cycle at Anfield Road. For Barça, the priority is to keep Araujo, but the board will not obstruct his transfer if the set terms are met.

Van Dijk, on the other hand, does not interest Barcelona

In this regard, Barça would not be interested, by any means, in a swap between the Uruguayan and Van Dijk. The Dutchman will turn 34 in July and his earnings (around 13 million euros net per year) are too high for the azulgrana budget, even though his arrival would be at 'no cost'. Looking ahead to the summer, Ronald will have the final say on whether he wants to leave the culé team, with which he has already resolved his renewal until 2031.

If Liverpool's interest in the 'charrúa' does not prosper, the club could also go for one of the center-backs that do interest Barça for the 25/26 season: Jonathan Tah. The German international seems determined to leave Bayer Leverkusen after a decade, and despite Bayern Munich's insistence, the 29-year-old defender prioritizes trying his luck in another 'top' league, with the culé option being the most attractive so far. If, ultimately, the Catalans do not formalize an offer in the summer, it is likely that the Hamburg native will lean towards a proposal from the 'reds'.