Ronald Araújo's agent has dismissed reports that Liverpool are reconsidering a permanent move. Edoardo Crnjar was asked about the rumours and answered, "They are unfounded rumours." The loan deal itself was always a big-ticket move, with Araújo joining from Barcelona last summer and a €55 million purchase option set for next summer.
The agent's denial
The denial is the cleanest part of the story. Araújo is 27 and has become an important defensive option under Andoni Iraola, so the player at the centre of the chatter is not some fringe loanee trying to force his way into the picture. He has already made six Premier League appearances for Liverpool, and his 6.65 league rating shows a decent return without making the case closed either way.
That leaves the wider question of what Liverpool do next, and Jules Koundé keeps coming up in that space. Christian Falk, quoted by TEAMtalk, said it is "NOT TRUE" that Bayern München are considering a January move for Koundé, while also saying Bayern will not actively pursue him this winter. TEAMtalk have also linked Liverpool's interest in Koundé to whether they activate Araújo's purchase option.
Kounde still sits in the background
Koundé's own numbers help explain why he stays in the conversation. He has a 7.06 La Liga rating and five league appearances this season, while Barcelona are top of La Liga. That gives them more room to handle his situation than a club under pressure to sell fast.
Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk has also said Chelsea see Koundé as right-back cover and a possible replacement for Malo Gusto, which is another reason his name keeps surfacing whenever the market shifts. Liverpool's decision on Araújo is still the first piece in the chain, but Koundé remains the obvious fallback name if that path changes.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →
