The chances of Gomez getting a new deal anywhere are pretty slim. I think sadly he might actually retire this summer.
On the centre back pool, I think it’s essential to keep Van Dijk. Even if it’s just for another year. Him and Jacquet are going to really pull each other along - having Jacquet is going to mean we can be more careful with him, and for Jacquet this is no-one better to learn how to be the best Centre Back in the world.
We know the club will want to give Leoni every chance after his horrific injury. And there are Ndiaye and Ndukwe bubbling just underneath.
So I think there is room for another, and I think it comes to which of the options do the club want to act on their option for Araujo at £47m or their option on Quansah for £55m. I don’t think there is room for both.
Just don’t think we need quansah. Nothing says we can’t get Quansah back and get Araujo on fresh terms too. Will shape up our defence for a while especially if we let VVD to.
I still think vvd and Liverpool need to argue on another 2 year contract. Im assuming the length of the contract is a sticking point but a 2 year contract with an exit clause after 1 similar to what the club did with Salah isn’t the worst.
The club seems to be adjusting to the possibility that we need 5-6 CBs 4 seniors and 2 well rated jrs. Add that to the factor that we will need Araujo to play in RB as well.
Jacquet , Araujo , Leoni , Van Dijk* (assuming van dijk stays)
And then the 2 jr CBs.
There’s a case of we get Quansah and keep Van Dijk
Jaquet , Araujo , Leoni , Van Dijk , Quansah
And then one of the two CBs with the other went on loans.
I’d be ecstaic it if we kept him, even another loan beyond the season if all parties agreed with maybe a small loan fee this time.
But there’s something in the back of my mind that tells me Iraola would prefer a more balanced RB long term whilst prioritising Virg Jacquet Leoni and adding Ndukwe to the mix for the CB positions.
From Iraola’s quotes, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t see Araujo as a long term RB solution. I think he believes Bradley is the one or has the highest chances of current players to make that spot his own. If that doesn’t happen, for a few well known reasons, we might look elsewhere.
From Araujo’s perspective, if he continues “passing this test”, his hunger might grow for more. A loan is not the same as a permanent contract at this stage of his career when he’ll be 28. And he’s been at Barcelona, even captained them.
The question is whether he’ll find basically being Joe Gomez’s replacement (and a bit higher in terms of playing time) attractive enough. Or will he want more. Also depending on the interest from the market.
I see him as someone who can cover two positions, RCB and RB. For LCB, he’s not an option. Jacquet might be, if needed. But even with him, despite impressing, it’s early days and I like him where he is now at RCB.
If he looks at Bradley’s record he will know he will play regardless and we need a squad of players and some that step right up, it’s not about a best 11 anymore.
That’s why I said, higher in terms of playing time, but our plan probably won’t be to have him as our first choice RB on paper and at RCB we have Jacquet. It could depend on Virgil’s situation, but Araujo’s best chance could be to be our first defender off the bench to cover two positions.
And I don’t agree necessarily that if it’s not Barcelona or us or a club far down. We’ll see what sort of interest he attracts. There could be a competitive team in Europe able to view him, without guarantees of course, as a clear starting player.
I’m not sure that we can yet count on Jacquet as a permanent mainstay in central defence. Yes he has been excellent so far, and his potential is really excellent. But at 21, he is far off the age where we can expect consistency from him throughout a full season. His form will surely have dips at times, which will be completely understandable.
That’s where Araujo comes in. Contrarily to Jacquet, he’s in his prime and we can expect from him to maintain his form as we have seen it on display until now. He has big game and big club experience, is versatile, has obviously the fighting spirit of which we’ve been lacking a bit lately, and is available for a ‘reasonable’ fee. For me, it’s a no-brainer to get him in on a permanent basis. I don’t see him as behind Jacquet in the pecking order, rather in a rotational role. Let’s not forget also that injuries can hit anytime, either Virgil or someone else.
I don’t know where that leaves Leoni, but he first has to be nurtured back to full fitness before we can assess what his status within the squad can be. It will take a long time yet.
For the right back spot, I agree with you that the club probably sees Bradley as the first one in the pecking order, but but but… let’s see if he can get fit again, and then remain a mainstay in the formation. It’s unclear so far whether that will be possible. So again, for me, someone like Araujo is extremely precious.
Of course, it will also depend on him if he wants to stay, but for the time being, he seems happy, plays almost every game, and seems to buy into Iraola’s working ethic. All good signs imo.
I mean, there are no guarantees, but in team and squad planning and especially in defence and the CB area, you need to have a pretty clear idea who are your starters. It’s not really a position for a lot of rotating.
Being 21 is also not far off the age really, we’ve seen players of his age do it. Dips in form is another thing, nobody is immune to that. When and if Jacquet shows a serious dip and needs to be benched for a while, naturally, we’ll react and hopefully have options to come in for him. 4 CB’s is a must.
I’m not sure this is Araujo’s prime and I’m also willing to see how he does physically this season. He was best at a certain point relatively early in his Barcelona career. Looked like athletically one of the best CB’s in the game. Then his availability and status dropped a bit.
It’s exactly the rotational role when I was talking about what Araujo might have on the table and what he might want to do. He had that at Barcelona.
For Leoni, if he proves he can become fit and stay fit, there is enough room for him to prove himself. Anything else is very hard to predict at this point, it’ll be like having, discovering and working with a new player from almost zero and even more so due to his big injury.
I have a feeling that the club really doesn’t want to keep him. He was a stop gap loan signing in their mind. And i wont be surprised if they dont make it permanent. And bring in who they targeted.
Which will be a mistake imo
Araujo header goal and celebration with the fans felt special…He is made for this club.
Both Araujo and Macca would have to play even better than what they are doing to force a new contract.
I’m pretty sure that the club have not yet made up their minds, and nor should they. Let him do his best to earn a permanent move and we’ll weigh up our options at the end of the season.
