In a development few saw coming just weeks ago, a top English side has reignited interest in one of Barcelona’s defensive stars after a sudden shake-up to their backline plans ahead of the new season.
Sources close to the London club reveal that an unexpected injury to a key defensive pillar has forced a rapid rethink. With a replacement urgently needed to anchor the defence, Barcelona’s Uruguay international Ronald Araújo has emerged as a surprise candidate—despite no serious expectations of his departure earlier in the summer.
Levi Colwill’s setback has left Chelsea vulnerable, even after the recent arrival of Joel Hato. Growing doubts over the reliability of Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, and Benoît Badiashile have prompted the Blues to revisit Araújo, a name previously discussed but never formally pursued.
Barcelona, still grappling with financial challenges, had earlier shown willingness to entertain offers for the defender—approaching clubs such as Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, though without success. Now, the situation has shifted. Chelsea is preparing a bid of up to €60 million, coupled with a salary boost over his current Camp Nou deal and the lure of Premier League football.
While Barça’s stance has hardened somewhat following Iñigo Martínez’s move to Al-Nassr, the door remains open if a strong offer arrives swiftly. Losing Araújo would leave a sizeable hole in their defence with La Liga just days from kickoff, but tensions behind the scenes—especially after he was stripped of the captaincy—could make an exit more likely.
Barcelona now faces a pivotal choice: keep their defensive enforcer to ensure stability, or cash in on what could be one of the most high-profile transfers of the 2026 summer market.
The coming days will be decisive—and Chelsea are watching every moment closely.
