Report: Marc Guehi was not the only centre-back Liverpool tried to sign this summer as new rejection emerges

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Liverpool’s lack of cover at centre-back has been a huge talking point during the early months of the season.The Reds headed into the campaign having failed to sign Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day.Although Arne Slot still had four senior centre-back options to choose from, there was a feeling that the botched transfer could come back to bite Liverpool.Almost instantly, it did. Giovanni Leoni was ruled out for the season mere weeks after Guehi came so close to becoming part of the Liverpool squad.Throw in the fact that Ibrahima Konate is in terrible form and Slot does not seem to trust Joe Gomez just now, and the picture is bleak for the Reds.It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will feel the need to dip into the transfer market in January.

In the meantime, a report from Spain has suggested that Guehi was not the only centre-back Slot pushed to sign this summer.Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty ImagesLiverpool tried to sign Barcelona’s Ronald AraujoAlthough the reason for Guehi not joining Liverpool was out of the Reds’ control, they have still faced criticism from some quarters for failing to wrap the transfer up sooner.Had Liverpool accepted a slight overpay on the England international, they could have brought him in long before deadline day.READ MORE: Liverpool eyeing four centre-back alternatives to Marc Guehi including ‘outstanding’ Newcastle starOthers have pointed out that Guehi was also not the only centre-back they could have targeted. And according to Spanish outlet Sport, he was not.They claim that Liverpool made an attempt to sign Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo during the summer.The push to get Araujo is said to have been linked to Liverpool’s worry over Konate’s contract situation, as well as the Uruguayan’s release clause reportedly dropping to around £52m.However, Araujo is said to have been clear with Liverpool that he wanted to stay at Barcelona.

Juventus, Tottenham and Chelsea are all claimed to have been given the same answer.Araujo is not the answer for LiverpoolIt feels as though not a summer goes by without Araujo being linked with a move to Anfield.Now 26 and slipping down the pecking order at Camp Nou, there feels little chance of that prospect ever becoming a reality.Having said that, having Araujo as an option during Konate’s current poor run would feel like a way home for Slot.Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr has hailed Araujo as being ‘very strong, and the Uruguay international is clearly a top-level defender on his day. He could certainly do a job as third-choice at Liverpool.But as they look to potentially replace Konate in the starting XI, the Barca stopper is not the answer Liverpool are seeking.