Harry Kane 2.0? Bayern 'ready to pay massive fee' for Barcelona superstar
Tom Weber
- Updated: 9 Dec 2023 13:01 GMT
- 3 min read
Bayern Munich are ready to break the bank for Barcelona star Ronald Araujo, according to German media.
The perennial Bundesliga champions did something in the summer that seemed quite impossible for a German club: they shelled out €100 million on Harry Kane in a deal that can rise as high as €120m. The Bavarians shattered their own and the league's transfer record and so far they have not regretted it, with Kane sitting on a spectacular 22 goals in all competitions and being on course to destroy the Bundesliga's shirt sales record.
Though Bayern are by quite some distance the wealthiest club in Germany, many believed that this transfer, and the €50m arrival of Kim Min-jae, would mean that the Bavarians would have a low-key January window given the money spent in the summer. However, according to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany, this may not be the case.
A few weeks ago, the journalist claimed that Bayern Munich are very keen on Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and that head coach Thomas Tuchel has greenlit a move. Now, he has revealed some more - quite stunning - details.
Bayern to do whatever it takes
Plettenberg asserts that Tuchel and sporting director Christoph Freund personally called Araujo on Friday to discuss a potential deal. The journalist reports that the Uruguayan is "the absolute desired transfer target" for Bayern.
Moreover, he claims that Tuchel told the 24-year-old that he is wanted "urgently" in 2024 - in the winter or the summer - and that the Bundesliga side are prepared to bid "no matter the cost." Bayern are "ready to pay a massive transfer fee," though they realise that it will be an incredibly difficult deal to pull off.
Barcelona, despite their financial issues, have no intention to sell their star centre-back, but Plettenberg claims that "now it's up to Araujo," implying that the Catalans may have to yield if he makes his transfer desire clear.
