{
  "id": 17365120,
  "title": "'I'd be surprised if Liverpool don't want to sign him permanently' - Glen Johnson urges former club to trigger £47m Ronald Araujo buy option from Barcelona",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/id-be-surprised-if-liverpool-dont-want-to-sign-him-permanently-glen",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-31T08:00:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/id-surprised-liverpool-dont-want-080010620.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has urged his old club to trigger the £47 million option to sign Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo permanently from Barcelona. Araujo, who arrived on a season-long loan from the Catalan side on August 10, 2026, has impressed at Anfield, starting six of Liverpool's first eight Premier League matches this term. The versatile defender has proven effective at both central defence and right-back, a flexibility that Johnson believes makes a permanent move straightforward. Johnson noted Araujo's adaptability in both positions, stating that he \"not a natural right-back, but he's quick, strong and willing to do a job for his team.\" However, Johnson acknowledged that Araujo's tactical flexibility might be temporary, pending the recovery of injured right-back Conor Bradley. Johnson stated, \"I'd see how Conor Bradley is when he returns from injury because I had no doubt that he was going to be the club's first choice right-back until he got that horrible injury.\" Araujo is expected to partner captain Virgil van Dijk in the upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday.",
  "summary": "Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has called on his old club to complete the permanent signing of on-loan Barcelona star Ronald Araujo following his impressive start to life at Anfield. The Merseyside outfit have a pre-agreed £47 million option to purchase the Uruguayan international at the end of the 2026-27 campaign.",
  "key_points": [
    "Glen Johnson urges Liverpool to trigger £47m buy option for Ronald Araujo.",
    "Araujo impressed at Anfield, starting six of Liverpool's first eight Premier League matches.",
    "Johnson sees Araujo's tactical flexibility as temporary pending Conor Bradley's recovery."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Securing the Uruguayan defender permanently would provide Liverpool with much-needed tactical versatility and defensive depth while they wait for the return of Conor Bradley from his injury.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}