Advances in talks to extend Ronald Araujo's Barcelona contract

Ronald Araujo's contract renewal is a priority for Barcelona. His current deal is up in 2023 and they want a new one in place before the end of the season. The two parties are getting closer to an agreement.

That's not to say there's an agreement yet, not at all, but Barça have raised their first offer as conversations move forward. They could yet have to make an extra effort to get the deal over the line, too. As of right now, Araujo's the leader of the Barça backline.

Barça incomprehensibly put the brakes on the renewals of Araujo and Gavi after trying down Ansu Fati and Pedri to focus on the January transfer window.

Araujo and Gavi's camps were stunned seeing the investments Barça played last month as they awaited their own offers and they were disappointed when the first proposals arrived.

Especially in Araujo's case, because Barça know that he has three firm offers on the table from Premier League clubs for the upcoming summer.

Barça's offer was not more than €3 million net per season, leaving Araujo in the mid-range of the club's earners and comparing him with players that have just come up from the B team or others that hardly play.

Talks were tense but Barça have raised their offer, although they numbers are still insufficient. The only thing Araujo wants is to be valued according to his performances and role in the XI, as well as in line with the other renewals Barça's have carried out this season.

There will be further meetings and, like Barça, Araujo's priority is to renew at Camp Nou. Barça have and will have for the foreseeable future problems with their salary limit, but they're working against the clock to find solutions because they don't want this issue to drag on.

The idea is to have everything agreed before Easter and to have some calm going into the final weeks of the season. Tying Araujo down for four more years will allow him to focus on his football and will guarantee Barça keep hold of one of the game's top young defenders.