‘He seems a bit…’ – Carragher issues Ronald Araujo verdict as Liverpool close in on loan deal

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Jamie Carragher has given his reaction to Liverpool’s impending loan move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.The Reds are on the cusp of agreeing a deal to sign the 27-year-old for the upcoming season, with Fabrizio Romano reporting on Monday morning that all the necessary documentation has been exchanged between the two clubs.Andoni Iraola’s side will have a purchase option of £47m for the Uruguayan if they wish to recruit him permanently at the end of the loan agreement, with no obligation to sign him outright if they’d prefer not to do so (The Athletic).Carragher unconvinced about impending Araujo moveDespite that arrangement, Carragher feels that Liverpool ought to have gone down a different route to reinforce their backline, which has been decimated by injuries.The former Reds defender said about Araujo on the Football Ramble podcast: “Liverpool should have gone for a centre-back with more experience instead of opting for a player who has always been a substitute for a 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi.“Arriving here on loan after being told that he is not a starter at Barça, he seems a bit reactive instead of a star signing. I would rather have a permanent solution that fits into the system in the long-term.

Let’s watch him play first, but I’m not getting excited yet.”Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustLiverpool have plenty to gain and little to lose from loaning in AraujoWe understand Carragher’s logic in preferring an experienced readymade first-team signing for the long-term over a loan deal to plug a gap in the squad, but in truth the potential rewards for Liverpool from the Araujo move far outweigh the risks.The hierarchy recognised the need for an immediate defensive addition, identified an opportunity with the Uruguayan and have acted upon it, instead of holding out for the ‘perfect’ option and running the risk of not getting them.The 27-year-old has plenty of high-level experience (213 games for Barcelona) and would ease some of the burden on Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni to regain and maintain full fitness.If his time with Liverpool goes well, FSG could seek to sign him permanently.

If it doesn’t go to plan, Araujo would go back to Barcelona without the Reds having committed to a hefty transfer fee.As Andy Jones rightly opined for The Athletic, this is ‘a relatively low-risk move that could have a big payoff’ for Iraola’s side. The alternative was not bringing in a defender and leaving the head coach sweating on his existing centre-backs to stay fit for the rest of the season.