Barcelona pushing to sign LA Galaxy right behind Julian Araujo before the European transfer window closes on Tuesday, various sources have confirmed to ESPN.
Barca have been monitoring Araujo for a while and want to sign him on an initial loan with the option to make the deal permanent. Hector Bellerincan move to Sporting Club.
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Sources told ESPN that 21-year-old Araujo would initially be signed to Barca’s B team if signed, but the Catalan club feel he has potential to join the first team in the short term. .
If Bellerin joins Lisbon sport this week — with sources telling ESPN that the deal is likely a one-time thing Tottenham Hotspur complete the signing Pedro Porro from the Portuguese side – then Barca will not have a natural right-back.
Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde have all been used in this position this season, often at Bellerin’s expense.
Araujo, who was born in California, represents USA at the junior level and there is a limit for the advanced level. However, in 2021, he switched allegiance to Mexicoalthough he hasn’t played for El Tri since his third appearance in a friendly against Suriname in June 2022.
Barca are hoping to finalize the deal by Tuesday’s deadline but sources add it is a “complicated situation”. A source close to the negotiations in the United States said that “it is not the end.”
Araujo has been a regular for the Galaxy for the past two seasons and convincing the US Soccer team to let him leave on initial loan was no easy task.
Alternatively, the activity may also have to be approved by LaLiga, although enrolling him in the B team could be an alternative.
Barca could not register a central defender Gavinew contract last week due to league wage cap, although LaLiga president Javier Tebas confirmed on Monday that the club has “some room” to maneuver this month following his departure Gerard Pique and Memphis Depay.
Pique announced his retirement in December and Memphis joined Atletico in early January in an initial €3 million deal.
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.
