Everton willing to offer ‘much better terms’ for Barcelona’s Araujo
The January spending spree Everton have been on already is showing no signs of slowing down as they look to repair their season’s damage so far.
According to The Athletic, the Toffees could be willing to offer Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo a much more lucrative wage to change the Nou Camp for Goodison Park.
The 22-year-old is on a relatively low salary at the cash-strapped Catalan giants and with only 18 months left on his current deal, he could be on his way out of Spain.
“Promising defender Ronald Araujo also deserves a big pay rise, given his very basic contract is into its last 18 months,” Dermot Corrigan writes.
“Everton are among the clubs who would be happy to offer the 22-year-old Uruguay international much better terms in the summer.”
A major coup
In a year where Barcelona have struggled compared to their own extremely high standards, Araujo has been a shining light at the heart of the defence.
It began under former Blues boss Ronald Koeman and has continued since Xavi’s return to the Nou Camp.
The Uruguayan is due a big pay rise given his outstanding rise to stardom at Barcelona but the club’s dire financial situation means they could be unable to afford such a contract.
If the powers that be at Goodison Park can make a deal happen, it would be a big statement to fans and other teams that they are serious about progressing on the pitch.
Araujo has been scouted by many of Europe’s top clubs, smelling a potential bargain, but if Everton can act quick, they could get their man before anyone else has had a chance.
He would be a major upgrade on current Toffees defenders Michael Keane and Yerry Mina and he fits the new transfer policy of young, exciting talents with room to improve.
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