Manchester United Busy Shopping for Players, Barcelona Defender Becomes Target

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo. (X/@FCBarcelona)

JAKARTA - Manchester United are busy shopping for players again. At least four players will come. One of them is Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, who is MU's target.

MU is currently opening negotiations with Barca to sign Araujo. Manager Erik ten Hag really needs a defender and has been monitoring the Uruguayan national team defender for a long time. Since entering Barca's first team in 2019, Araujo has established himself as the team's mainstay defender.

This is what made Ten Hag interested in recruiting Araujo who has speed, aggressiveness and strong energy. Araujo shows the typical central defender who is completely uncompromising.

The presence of a central defender who can also play as a right-back will strengthen the team's back line. Moreover, MU really has problems in that sector.

Not only is the behavior of the new goalkeeper Andre Onana often blunders, but the defenders are also no longer solid.

Mainstay defender Lisandro Martinez has been sidelined for quite a long time due to injury. He has only recently been able to train again and is expected to only play for a few more weeks.

When Martinez was not there, his partner Raphael Varane actually experienced a decline. The former Real Madrid player's performance is no longer as solid as last season.

Previously he forced Harry Maguire to sit on the bench. Now what is happening is the opposite. Maguire has regained his place in the first team after showing his consistency.

Meanwhile, Varane actually warms up the bench more often. MU will also release Varane, who is reportedly returning to Madrid.

The problem is, it is not easy for MU to attract Araujo. The reason is, MU must have the courage to spend quite a large amount of money to bring in Araujo. Yes, Barca has set a price of 69 million pounds sterling for the sale of the 24-year-old defender.

Apart from that, MU is competing with Bayern Munich who are looking for a new defender. Bayern will clearly be MU's tough opponent in the race for Araujo, who really doesn't want to leave Barca.

Other players who are being hunted by MU include Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo. This French defender is an alternative if the Red Devils fail to get Araujo. Todibo has also been with MU for a long time but his transfer never went through.

Next on MU's shopping list, Everton center back Jarrad Branthwaite and Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise are likely to be MU's first purchases in the player transfer window this January.

Next there is right back Jeremie Frimpong who plays at Bayer Leverkuen. MU seems to be a noisy neighbor for Manchester City because they are busy buying players.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who now owns 25% of MU shares, has promised four new players will come to Old Trafford.

Since getting shares in MU, the richest man in Great Britain has been given authority and controls the buying and selling of players.