Ronald Araujo claims Liverpool loan switch is ‘right move at the right time’

The 27-year-old Uruguay international has taken a pay cut to facilitate the move, for which the club have an option to buy for a pre-agreed price – believed to be £47million – should it prove successful.

It is understood Liverpool will not pay a loan fee but will cover the wages of the defender, who can also cover right-back in addition to his preferred central-defensive position.

“I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take,” Araujo told the club website.

“As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.

“I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time.”

Defence was an area which needed strengthening following the departure of Ibrahima Konate at the conclusion of his contract and the ongoing injury issues at right-back.

Liverpool believe Araujo’s experience – he was named Barcelona captain in January – is important and, significantly, he is up to speed having been involved in the Catalans’ pre-season preparations and it is understood he will join squad training later this week.

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Araujo’s arrival gives head coach Andoni Iraola greater depth in defence than predecessor Arne Slot had last season as new arrival Jeremy Jacquet is expected to return to training after a knee injury while Giovanni Leoni is entering the final stages of his rehabilitation following an ACL injury.

Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Ndiaye, both 18, have impressed in pre-season but with Joe Gomez not fit for the start of the new Premier League campaign, Iraola needed another senior defender to provide cover as, for much of last season, Liverpool had to play Virgil van Dijk and Konate virtually every game.

Liverpool are continuing to actively look for recruits further forward, with attack in need of reinforcement, and Araujo’s fee-free arrival will not impact those plans.

They have an interest in Paris St Germain’s Bradley Barcola but will not pay over the odds, in keeping with their self-sustaining model of seeking value in the market.