Thomas Tuchel's on the phone! Bayern Munich boss calls up Ronald Araujo with Die Roten desperate to sign Barcelona centre-back at all costs

According to Florian Plettenberg, Tuchel and the Bayern sporting director, Christoph Freund, had a call with Araujo on Friday to try to convince the Uruguayan to move to Germany. The Bayern hierarchy have identified Araujo as a key target and are supposedly willing to do whatever possible to sign him.

With Barcelona strapped for cash, Bayern may look to force their hand into selling their defender. Tuchel is absolutely adamant that his defensive line needs strengthening and sees Araujo as the key signing required to help propel Bayern to yet another Bundesliga title. With Die Roten willing to pay what it takes to get the defender, it will be left in the hands of Araujo to decide his future.

Tuchel has already spent €150 million (£129m/$162m) on transfers as Bayern coach - including a third of that on centre half Kim Min-jae from Napoli. Yet, the former Chelsea boss still wants to add Araujo to the likes of Kim, Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano at the back.

Having hung up the phone with one another, the Bayern coach and Barcelona defender return their focus to their respective domestic leagues. Bayern take on Eintracht Frankfurt today, while tomorrow Barca face La Liga's surprise package this season, Girona.