Aston Villa to sell players to secure Ronald Araujo transfer after Barcelona update
Alan Hutton has told Aston Villa that they will have to sell “one or two” players to be able to afford to sign Barcelona star Ronald Araujo this summer.
Unai Emery is set to add to his squad when the transfer window opens as he prepares the Villans for the Champions League next summer, with reports from Spain suggesting Araujo has been identified as a potential target [Sport, 20 May]
The Uruguayan international has been a key figure under Xavi this season, playing 25 times in La Liga at both centre-back and right-back to help Barcelona finish second and book their place in next season’s Champions League.
While Hutton believes the 25-year-old would be an excellent addition to the Villans backline, he has been left wondering whether the “huge money” needed to complete the deal could be better invested elsewhere.
“I think he is a top-class defender,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s so aggressive and kind of like Antonio Rudiger in that way where he just loves defending so I think he would be an excellent signing.
“But we’re talking huge money here and is that a place where Villa need to spend that sort of money in a position like that? I think they already have got options and I know they get caught on from time to time and I think he could come in and do a really good job.
“But you’re probably going to have to get rid of one or two to spend that sort of money and bring somebody in.
“It’s an interesting one, but he’s a very good player so again, it’s another big name with huge experience that would add to that squad.”
Could Aston Villa sign Barcelona star Ronald Araujo during the summer transfer window?
As Hutton suggests, there are few more exciting defenders in the world of football than Araujo and while that would make him an excellent addition at Villa Park, it will ensure that he costs more than a pretty penny this summer.
The Villans financial position currently means that players will likely have to be sold before new additions can be made this summer. It could take more than the sale of Jacob Ramsey or Diego Carlos to fund a move for the Barcelona star.
Ultimately, this move could act as an indication of how both Emery and NSWE intend to approach the transfer window. If they are willing to shell out a likely club-record fee for a new centre-back, it would show they’re not here to make up the numbers.
If they instead make several, less high-profile additions it could mean that they intend to use a more measured approach in the transfer market.
In other Aston Villa news, Manchester United have been told they will have to “pay through the roof” to secure Ollie Watkins this summer
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