In a recent print edition, Sport stated that Chelsea are eyeing a move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo. It has been revealed that the Blues could face competition from other Premier League clubs in pursuit of the Uruguayan centre-back.
Araujo’s Recent Emergence At The Nou Camp
Araujo has done well to play a prominent role for Barca during this campaign and has been responsible for producing some solid displays at the centre of Xavi’s defence. The 22-year-old has registered two goals in 22 matches for the Catalan side this season across all competitions.
The Rivera-born sensation has given a good account of himself on the defensive end of the pitch based on his average of 1.4 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 1.9 clearances per game in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. He has even been tidy when distributing the ball from the back after making 88.2% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
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What Will Araujo Bring To Chelsea?
Araujo has decent pace under his belt that helps him make some good recovering runs at the back when needed. He is a solid tackler of the ball and can snuff out the danger quickly to earn possession back for his team.
The Uruguay international is a solid presence in the air and doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed. He is also a tidy passer of the ball and can be a threat in the air from indirect set-pieces. However, there are some question marks over whether he would be able to make a smooth transition to life in English football.
At the moment, Araujo is playing at a high level which makes him a decent target for Chelsea to consider this year. We can expect the South American defensive ace to bring some bite and steel to Thomas Tuchel‘s defensive department at Stamford Bridge. At 22, Araujo has got a very promising future ahead of him, so the Blues should think about orchestrating a move to secure his services this January or at the end of this season.
