Los Angeles Galaxy right back Julian Araujo is being pursued by Barcelona as the European transfer window nears its ending, as the La Liga giants hope to add him on loan with an option to buy.
Barcelona are said to have been tracking the 21-year-old Araujo for some time and see him as a replacement should Hector Bellerin in fact leave and head to Sporting Libson to fill the hole left by Pedro Perro's move to Tottenham Hotspur.
According to ESPN Araujo would immediately join Barca's B team if signed, but that the club feel he has the potential to be involved with the first team in a short matter of time.
Araujo was born in California and represented the United States at the youth level before earning one cap for the senior side.
He switched his allegiance to Mexico in 2021, although he's not played for El Tri since winning his third cap in a friendly against Suriname in June 2022.
Barcelona will need to get the deal done before the Tuesday's transfer deadline in Europe.
Seeing as though Araujo has been a regular in the Galaxy's lineup, allowing him to leave would leave the club with a massive hole ahead of the start of the season.
The deal would also have to be approved by La Liga although the club hopes initially registering him for the B team may help them work around the potential stumbling block regarding the team's financial issues.
Barcelona were unable to register midfielder Gavi's new contract last week due to the league's salary limits, however LaLiga president Javier Tebas said on Monday that the club did have 'some room' to maneuver this month following the departures of Gerard Pique and Memphis Depay.
Barcelona have used Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde at right back this season, all of whom have often been played ahead of the departing Bellerin and will likely provide intense competition for Arajuo
