Sources: Liverpool monitoring €60m-rated Chelsea transfer target to replace key player

Ronald Araujo celebrates a goal for Barcelona

Liverpool are keeping an eye on Ronald Araujo’s situation at Barcelona as they look for possible replacements for Ibrahima Konate.

As I revealed earlier this morning in my piece for the Daily Briefing, the Reds are starting to plan for life without Konate, who is edging closer to the end of his contract.

Araujo is someone Liverpool are understood to be keen on, while there’s also been mention of Chelsea and Tottenham monitoring the Uruguay international’s situation at the Nou Camp.

“One to keep an eye on is (Ronald) Araujo to Liverpool,” my source said. “He’s considering his options and Barca would probably sell for €50-60m.”

Ronald Araujo transfer ideal to help Liverpool replace Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool fans will surely be hoping the club can do everything possible to persuade Konate to stay and sign a new deal, but it’s not looking too promising right now.

Ronald Araujo holding the Joan Gamper Trophy (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

The France international doesn’t seem any closer to agreeing terms on an extension, and he’ll be free to negotiate with clubs from abroad from the 1st of January onwards.

Things can change quickly, of course, but one imagines we’d have heard something more positive about Konate by now.

Still, Araujo looks like a realistic target and it’s easy to imagine him doing a similarly good job in Arne Slot’s defence.

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