Luis Suarez offers Liverpool huge £43m transfer assist with phone call made

Latest Liverpool transfer news as Luis Suarez tells a former teammate to join the Reds

A report from Spain claims Liverpool may get a helping hand from former fan favourite Luis Suarez to complete their next transfer. The Uruguayan is alleged to have been in contact with national teammate Ronald Araujo over his next move.

The Barcelona defender has made 178 appearances since moving to Spain in 2018, winning the two La Liga titles along the way. Araujo has been made to battle for his place in Hansi Flick's side with a few injury troubles to hamper the progress he had made under previous manager Xavi Hernandez.

As a result, the 26-year-old is tentatively being linked with boosting Liverpool's defensive ranks with a £43m transfer this coming January.

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Now the latest suggestion from E-Noticies is that Suarez has picked up the phone to offer his wisdom and recommend Araujo complete the reverse of the transfer he made in summer 2014, by leaving Barca to join Liverpool.

The 38-year-old would have been somebody for Araujo to look up to during the short time they shared together at Camp Nou, before becoming Uruguay teammates until Suarez's retirement from international football late last year.

Speaking during Barca's recent pre-season tour in South Korea, the defender himself admitted he wasn't rushing to leave.

"Am I sure I will stay? Of course. I am very happy in Barcelona," the Araujo told reporters, as he declared: "They haven't seen the best Ronald yet, and that's what they'll witness in the coming years."

So it remains to be seen if his stance would have changed by the winter, or indeed how he would fit into Liverpool.

Arne Slot has stuck with his central defensive partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to begin the 2025/26 campaign. However, the former's contract is due to expire in 2027 and the latter's even sooner, in summer 2026.

Joe Gomez has provided support whilst 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni - a £26m summer signing from Italian side Parma - is yet to make his debut.

The Reds also failed in a deadline day transfer for Marc Guehi, with Crystal Palace cancelling the proposed £35m transfer at the 11th hour. Liverpool chairman Tom Werner remained coy when asked whether the club would launch a new attempt in winter - and the England international would currently be available on a free transfer next summer.

Araujo is able to play centrally and also as a right-back. Slot is well-covered in that area of the pitch too, with Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley recently covered by midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to good effect when both were injured last month.

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