In a move that wasn’t on the radar just a few weeks ago, a major English club has reconsidered one of Barcelona’s heavyweights following a radical shift in its defensive plans ahead of the new season.
Information from circles close to the London club indicates that a sudden decision was made following an injury to one of the main pillars of the back line, forcing the club to urgently move for a replacement who could immediately lead the defense. The surprising name among the options on the table was Barcelona’s international defender, who was not expected to leave at that time.
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The injury to Levi Colwill has put Chelsea in a delicate position, despite their recent signing of Joel Hato. With confidence in the fitness of Wesley Fofana, Chalobah, and Badishele waning, the Blues’ management has already begun reevaluating Ronald Araujo, which was previously discussed but without any official moves.
Barcelona, for its part, had previously been open to listening to offers, especially given their complex financial situation. The player had already been offered to several clubs, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, but the responses were negative. Now, the situation has changed.
Chelsea is preparing to submit an offer worth up to €60 million, with a lucrative salary exceeding the player’s current earnings at Barcelona, in addition to the appeal of playing in the English Premier League.
Although Barcelona’s position now appears different, especially after the departure of Inigo Martinez to Al-Nassr, the club’s management has not completely closed the door to the idea of a sale, particularly if the financial offer is attractive and comes with a quick turnaround.
Although Araujo is not yet a guaranteed starter, his departure could leave a defensive gap that will be difficult to fill in the short term, especially with the Spanish League set to begin in just a few days.
Behind the scenes, there is talk that Araujo is not completely comfortable at Camp Nou after being stripped of the captaincy in favor of other players. This could make it easier for him to make a decisive decision if an official offer from Chelsea arrives.
Barcelona is now at a crossroads: either they hold onto Araujo’s services to maintain defensive stability, or they open the door to one of the most prominent transfer deals of the 2026 summer window.
The next few days will be crucial… and Chelsea continues to closely monitor the situation.
