Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that Ronald Araujo will complete a move to Liverpool. The Reds have been linked with signing a new central defender following the injury to Joe Gomez during pre-season.
Deal agreed between clubs
News emerged earlier this week that Liverpool had agreed a deal to sign Araujo from Barcelona on a season-long loan, which will also include an option to make the move permanent.
Gomez's injury has left Liverpool with only one fully-fit senior centre-back in their squad (Virgil van Dijk), while Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are still recovering from their injury concerns.
Araujo arrives for medical
Araujo has arrived on Merseyside on Sunday to undergo a medical to become a Liverpool player. The 27-year-old has spent the last eight years at Barcelona, racking up 213 appearances and netting 14 goals, and was named as the club's captain in January following the loan exit of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
However, he managed only 16 starts last season and took time away for mental health reasons after facing severe criticism following his red card during the Champions League defeat to Chelsea in November. Araujo came back in January and lifted the La Liga trophy in May after Barcelona defeated fierce rivals Real Madrid 2-0 at the Camp Nou to secure first place.
Flick's farewell message
Flick is allowing his skipper to depart and speaking following his side's friendlies against Nottingham Forest and Udinese on Saturday, he said: "I think Ronald is a great guy and a fantastic player. I think our style of play, that we want to play, is a little bit different. He's a player that has a lot of speed, he's physical and very strong and also with the ball he's quite good.
"We couldn't include him like I wanted and also I think he wants to make something new. You know it more than me because in the past, something has happened, so this affected him. I saw him this morning and I said goodbye and I think he was very happy and Liverpool is also a fantastic club. I wish him all the best because he deserves it. He's a fantastic guy and fantastic player and was a great captain."
Loan terms and defensive crisis
It's understood the season-long loan features a £47m option for Liverpool to sign rather than an obligation. The Reds are grappling with several defensive absences as they continue preparations for their Premier League curtain-raiser at Newcastle United on August 23.
At centre-back, Gomez faces several weeks out with a muscle problem sustained in the friendly against Sunderland; new arrival Jacquet is yet to appear as he regains fitness following shoulder surgery; Leoni remains absent from an ACL injury suffered last September, and teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe is ineligible. At right-back, Conor Bradley has been unavailable since January following a serious knee injury while Jeremie Frimpong has been dealing with several fitness problems since his move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Liverpool host Monaco at Anfield at 2.30pm on Sunday.
