Glen Johnson believes Liverpool have made a 'very clever' signing in Ronald Araujo, with the loan deal from Barcelona potentially saving the club up to £100m.
The Reds brought in the Barca captain after Joe Gomez joined Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley on the sidelines. Jeremy Jacquet has returned to training and could feature in Sunday's friendly double-header against Como, but Araujo's arrival was needed to bolster options at centre-back and right-back for new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Deal details and context
The agreement with Barcelona sees Liverpool pay the Uruguay international's wages and includes an option to buy him at the end of the season for £47m. By then, it is hoped Jacquet, 21, and Leoni, 19, will have established themselves as first-team players, leaving the Reds' decision on making the move permanent open.
Johnson, who made 200 appearances for Liverpool between 2009 and 2016, praised the business. He said: "Time will tell with the loan deal for Ronald Araujo, but I think it’s a very clever signing."
"Liverpool could have quite easily gone out and dropped £50-100m on a new centre-back, but they’ve shrewdly signed a great player on loan. He looks like a top defender who could thrive in the physicality of the Premier League, but it doesn’t always work out that way."
Defensive competition and Van Dijk's future
Araujo, Jacquet, and when fit, Leoni and Gomez will compete for a place alongside captain Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands skipper turned 35 last month and has entered the final 12 months of his contract.
Johnson urged Jacquet and Leoni to learn from Van Dijk. He said: "Virgil van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs the Premier League has ever seen. Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are in a very fortunate position to be able to learn from such an icon."
"They need to make the most of it this season, as I can’t see van Dijk sticking around at Liverpool if he isn’t playing week in, week out just to help two young lads develop. He will do as much as he can for them this season, of course, and his guidance will be priceless to the next generation. However, he has his own career to think about."
Further squad needs
Liverpool have also signed winger Victor Munoz and are aiming to strike a deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola. With Hugo Ekitike unlikely to play again this year, Johnson believes the club need another centre-forward.
Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO on behalf of SeatPin, he said: "I think Liverpool still need a striking option. I know it seems stupid given they bought Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike last summer, but neither of these players proved themselves to be Liverpool number nines last season. They both were inconsistent and struggled with injury, so I have no faith in them being any different this season."
"Therefore, I think Liverpool could do with another striker in the squad. Someone who can get regular goals for the team, as that’s what title contenders need. If Isak and Ekitike both come back from injury and start the season fit and firing, then it resolves the problem. They’d be like two new signings in themselves. But I have my doubts that this will be the case, and any cover Liverpool could bring in upfront would be a sensible move."
The Reds kick off their Premier League season away to Newcastle United on Sunday week (August 23).
