Liverpool transfer now looks all but dead in the water after Ronald Araujo clarification

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Ronald Araujo has been signed on loan to provide cover centrally and at right-back.Fabrizio Romano now reports that the impending arrival of the Barcelona star will not fully close Liverpool off to the potential of signing a right-back.However, it seems that it’s not a position the Reds are intending to box off with a specialist solution in the market as things currently stand.Fabrizio Romano clarifies Ronaldo Araujo’s role at LiverpoolAs things stand, Liverpool have evidently landed Araujo to cover their defensive shortcomings ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.“Will they also sign a right-back? My understanding is that Liverpool will never close doors to things in general, as with the market things can always change,” the Italian transfer news expert spoke on his eponymous YouTube channel.“As of today, LFC see Araujo as a centre-back, but eventually also as a right-back when needed.

I don’t expect Liverpool to add anything else in that position at least as of now.”An understandable dip into the market, it has to be emphasised, given it’s currently not clear what our starting centre-back duo is going to look like once competitive action resumes.Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustThe confusion stems from Jeremy Jacquet’s rather apparent absence from any of our pre-season action following his recovery from a shoulder injury picked up in Ligue 1 last term.We know Giovanni Leoni is a no-go until much later in the year and Conor Bradley at right-back appears set to follow a similar trajectory.Put simply: Liverpool need a guaranteed body available come our trip to St James’ Park on Sunday 23 August.

Araujo provides that.Where does Araujo’s arrival leave Djed Spence?We take Romano’s update to mean that it’s not necessarily all over between Liverpool and their reported interest in Djed Spence.However, it’s far from indicating a guarantee or even a strong chance that we’ll be zeroing in on the Tottenham right-back any time soon.At least not until we get an idea of just how much a potential agreement with PSG for Bradley Barcola (and, perhaps, also Ibrahim Mbaye) is going to chew into our summer budget.The France international will not come cheaply, that’s for sure. So there’s every chance that Liverpool look to spare their remaining funds to plug other gaps in the squad if they feel comfortable relying on Ronald Araujo to provide cover at right-back when the need arises.