Liverpool told they could have saved up to £100m with 'very clever signing'

Glen Johnson is impressed by his former club Liverpool's decision to sign Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona

Liverpool have been told they have made a 'very clever' signing in Ronald Araujo and that his arrival on a season-long loan from Barcelona could have saved the club up to £100m.

The Reds made the move for the Barca captain after Joe Gomez joined Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley on the sidelines. While Jeremy Jacquet has returned to training and is in line to play some part in Sunday's friendly double-header against Como, until Araujo's purchase the options open to new head coach Andoni Iraola at centre-back and right-back were extremely limited.

The deal Liverpool agreed with Barcelona will see them pay the Uruguay international's wages and gives them the option to buy him at the end of the season for £47m.

By then it is hoped that Jacquet, 21, and Leoni, 19, will have established themselves as first-team players. That's why it remains to be seen whether the Reds will make Araujo's move permanent.

However, Glen Johnson believes it is an excellent bit of business. The former England right-back, who made 200 appearances for Liverpool between 2009 and 2016, said: “Time will tell with the loan deal for Ronald Araujo, but I think it’s a very clever signing.

“Liverpool could have quite easily gone out and dropped £50-100m on a new centre-back, but they’ve shrewdly signed a great player on loan. He looks like a top defender who could thrive in the physicality of the Premier League, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

“That’s why I think it’s such a great piece of business by Liverpool. If he turns out to be a great player, they can sign him permanently at the end of his loan. But to me it’s a risk-free deal which provides them great cover in a position they are desperate to fill right now.

“I like the fact they haven’t panic-bought someone, they’ve plugged a gap in a sensible way.”

Araujo, Jacquet and, when fit, Leoni and Gomez will by vying for a place at the heart of the Reds' defence alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.

The modern-day Liverpool legend turned 35 last month and has entered the final 12 months of his contract.

And Johnson believes Jacquet and Leoni must make the most of playing alongside the Netherlands skipper. He said: “Virgil van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs the Premier League has ever seen. Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are in a very fortunate position to be able to learn from such an icon.

“They need to make the most of it this season, as I can’t see van Dijk sticking around at Liverpool if he isn’t playing week in, week out just to help two young lads develop.

“He will do as much as he can for them this season, of course, and his guidance will be priceless to the next generation. However, he has his own career to think about. He will be forced to be selfish and move on from Liverpool if he isn’t going to be playing regularly after this season. The two young centre-backs look like they could be a great combination, and the future appears safe if they can stay injury-free.

“You’d have to ask Virgil to get the exact answer, but I can’t see him hanging around if he has offers from elsewhere with a guarantee of regular football.”

As well as Jacquet and Araujo, the Reds have signed winger Victor Munoz. However, they are still aiming to bolster their wide options by striking a huge deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola.

But with Hugo Ekitike unlikely to play again this year, Johnson believes his former club need to bring in another centre-forward to provide cover and competition for Alexander Isak.

Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO on behalf of SeatPin, he said: “I think Liverpool still need a striking option. I know it seems stupid given they bought Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike last summer, but neither of these players proved themselves to be Liverpool number nines last season. They both were inconsistent and struggled with injury, so I have no faith in them being any different this season.

“Therefore, I think Liverpool could do with another striker in the squad. Someone who can get regular goals for the team, as that’s what title contenders need.

“If Isak and Ekitike both come back from injury and start the season fit and firing, then it resolves the problem. They’d be like two new signings in themselves. But I have my doubts that this will be the case, and any cover Liverpool could bring in upfront would be a sensible move.“

The Reds kick-off their Premier League season away to Newcastle United on Sunday week (August 23)

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