Chelsea are set to make a £43m bid for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and are ‘confident’ of striking a deal, in response to reports in Spain.
The Club World Cup holders are searching the transfer marketplace for centre-back options after Levi Colwill’s major injury blow.
Colwill, 22, required surgery on a serious knee injury and is now expected to miss a lot of the season.
Chelsea have already spent over £150m this summer and the Blues are still working on deals for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons and Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.
However the Colwill injury could lead on to much more Chelsea investment, with Football Espana claiming they’re lining up a suggestion for Barcelona’s Araujo.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
In The Mixer: Exclusive evaluation, FPL suggestions and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – enroll, it’s an open goal.
The Uruguay international has made 175 appearances for Barca since being signed from Boston River in 2018.
Araujo has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League in recent times and reports in Spain say Chelsea are not any alone in expressing interest in a deal.
It’s claimed that, like Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are also showing ‘serious interest’ in Araujo, while Manchester United are ‘monitoring the situation closely’.
But Chelsea seem like leading the transfer race as things stand and Football Espana say they’ve indicated they might be willing to pay £43m to bring the Uruguayan to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are even reportedly confident that they fee would persuade Barcelona to part ways with Araujo given the La Liga giant’s financial difficulties.
The problem for Chelsea is the reigning Spanish champions are already set to sell centre-back Inigo Martinez to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, meaning they might block Araujo’s exit.
But Chelsea plan to check Barcelona’s resolve with a bid expected to be tabled in the approaching days.
Asked whether Chelsea could be seeking to sign a direct alternative for Colwill after his unlucky injury setback, Blues boss Enzo Maresca said: ‘It depends – we are going to wait and see.
Chelsea summer signings
Jamie Gittens – £48m from Borussia Dortmund
Joao Pedro – £55m from Brighton
Liam Delap – £30m from Ipswich Town
Mamadou Sarr – £12m from Lyon
Dario Essugo – £18m from Sporting CP
Estevao Willian – £29m from Palmeiras
Kendry Paez – £17m from Independiente del Valle
Jorrol Hato – £37m from Ajax
‘You understand in our way, how vital Levi has been. I spoke with him yesterday and I told him that if we achieve what we achieved last yr, it is usually due to him – and he was a fundamental player for us.’
Chelsea’s alternative defensive options are recent signing Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong.
Stamford Bridge hero Frank Leboeuf says losing Colwill is a ‘big blow’ but believes Chelsea have already got the players needed to cover.
‘It’s a shame because Levi Colwill was essentially the most experienced player in comparison with the others,’ he said on ESPN. ‘He had a fantastic season and was leading the defence.
‘But I consider that players like Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo can do the job.
‘It’s an enormous blow because Colwill has proven that he’s an actual talented player and may have a vivid future.
‘Chalobah was called back from Crystal Palace last season and did thoroughly until the remainder of the season. Even Tosin can do the job.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Erik ten Hag rates £37m Chelsea transfer: ‘He was the very best player within the league’
MORE: Manchester United director makes Benjamin Sesko prediction after £74m transfer
MORE: Gianluigi Donnarumma makes decision over Manchester United transfer as PSG approve sale