Aston Villa readying audacious summer move for Barcelona star | OneFootball

A headline member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona has on Monday been linked with a surprise move to the Premier League.

The player in question? Ronald Araújo.

The future of stopper Araújo has of course long been considered as being altogether up in the air.

As much comes with the Uruguayan considered one of the most potentially profitable members of Xavi’s squad on the transfer market.

Some of European football’s biggest clubs have been tipped as potential landing spots in the past, from Bayern Munich in Germany to Manchester United in England.

As alluded to above, though, on Monday, it is another Premier League outfit who have been tipped to launch an audacious swoop for Araújo’s signature.

The club in question? Aston Villa.

Unai Emery’s Villa are fresh off what marked a hugely successful campaign, in which the Claret and Blue secured for themselves a place in next season’s Champions League.

The brass at Villa Park have identified the heart of the club’s defence as an area in need of reinforcement with a view to their return to the top tier of European club football.

And the aforementioned Araújo, as per Diario Sport, has been earmarked as a leading target.

Aston Villa pair Emery and Monchi were recently spotted in Catalunya’s capital, with early feelers understood to have been put out regarding a potential deal for Barca’s defensive stalwart.

With the approach having not been shut down by the Blaugrana, the Premier League outfit have therefore begun working on the sale of Diego Carlos, with a view to bringing in Araújo as his replacement.

Conor Laird | GSFN