Liverpool remain firmly in the race to sign Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo, according to reports in the Catalan media.

The Uruguayan international has reached a stalemate with Barca over a contract extension and it is increasingly likely that the defender will leave the Camp Nou at the end of the season.

Araujo is said to have been sounded out by the Reds about a transfer next summer when he will have just twelve months remaining on his current deal.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are not the only Premier League club interested in the 22-year-old, though, with Manchester United and Chelsea having also enquired about the player’s availability.

It is believed that Barcelona will need to offload some players in order to offer Araujo an improved contract. Currently, there is very little room on the wage bill to accommodate the Uruguayan’s higher salary.

Whether Liverpool would need another centre-half, though, it is doubtful. The Merseyside club currently have Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate in the first-team squad. Araujo could, however, come in as a long-term replacement for one of the more established stars.