Barcelona considers late centre-back signing as Araujo exit approaches

Barcelona went into this summer hunting a left-footed defender. They may yet come out of it signing a very different kind of centre-back.

With three weeks left in the window and Ronald Araujo edging towards the exit, the club’s defensive plan has been thrown back onto the table. Sporting director Deco has left the door open: if the right centre-back appears, Barcelona are ready to move.

Araujo’s shadow over Flick’s defence

The original blueprint was clear. Hansi Flick and the sporting department pivoted away from defensive reinforcements to focus on bolstering the attack. The back line would largely stand pat.

Araujo’s imminent departure has changed the calculation.

His exit would not only strip Flick of his most dominant defender, it would also open up a huge chunk of salary space. That financial breathing room could be decisive, giving Barcelona the flexibility they have lacked in recent windows.

Strip Araujo out of the depth chart and the picture looks lighter. Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia become the primary central options, with Jules Kounde still able to tuck inside when needed.

On paper, that is a workable group. Over a long season, it looks thin.

Flick complicates the equation further. He views Eric Garcia as more than just a centre-back; the German wants him as cover at full-back as well, particularly on Kounde’s flank. Every minute Garcia spends wide is one less body in the middle. The risk of going into the season one injury away from a crisis is obvious.

La Masia solution or experienced signing?

Inside the club, one name has pushed his way into the conversation: Alvaro Cortes.

The La Masia defender has caught the eye of Flick’s staff, who are pleased with his progress and temperament. Promoting him and handing him a bigger role is a genuine option if Barcelona decide to ride with what they have and avoid another salary commitment.

Flick, though, would rather have an experienced head to lean on in the heart of his defence. A player who can walk straight into a battle for a starting spot, not just make up the numbers.

That preference does not mean Barcelona will panic. The stance from the sporting department is firm: there will be no signing just to fill a squad list. Any new centre-back must arrive on favourable financial terms and be good enough to genuinely compete for a first XI place. Anything less, and the club will trust Cubarsi, Martin, Garcia, Kounde and, if needed, Cortes.

Romero and Laporte on the radar

Two familiar names remain on Barcelona’s list.

Cristian Romero continues to be linked with a move away from Tottenham and is one of the profiles admired at the Camp Nou. Aggressive, front-foot, already proven at the highest level – he fits the type Flick would welcome.

Landing him is another matter. Romero has interest from Arsenal and Inter Milan, while talks with Atletico Madrid have also moved forward. Any Barcelona bid would be entering a crowded, expensive race, at a time when the Catalans must watch every euro.

Aymeric Laporte is the other long-standing possibility. The Spain international’s camp has suggested his release clause could be relatively low, a detail that instantly caught attention in Barcelona’s offices. Athletic Bilbao, though, have pushed back on that version of events, leaving a cloud over the true cost of any deal.

Until that number is crystal clear, Barcelona cannot judge whether Laporte is a realistic opportunity or just another name that looks good on paper and impossible in practice.

For now, the club waits, calculators in hand, scouting reports on the table, and Araujo’s departure hanging over everything. One decisive move could reshape Flick’s defence for the season – or Barcelona may yet choose to bet on youth and live with the risk.