Sign Jonathan Tah or keep Ronald Araujo? Barcelona's surprise summer transfer plan revealed after talks with Bayer Leverkusen star as club assess partners for wonderkid Pau Cubarsi

Ronald Araujo's recent goal against Real Sociedad has once again sparked talk about his future at Barcelona, according to a report from Cadena SER. While the Uruguayan centre-back has made it clear that he wants to stay at the club, the decision ultimately lies with the Catalan side. Araujo is working to regain his starting role after an injury sidelined him for the better part of the season, with wonderkid Pau Cubarsi and veteran Inigo Martinez currently first choice.

Araujo was close to an exit in the January transfer window, only for the board to convince him to sign a new deal which will run until 2031. The real catch, though, is Araujo's €65 million release clause, which is valid for the first ten days of the transfer window, raising questions about his long-term future at Barca. Despite the uncertainty, both Araujo and the club are confident he will stay for now, although summer developments could change that.

Barcelona have also been linked with Tah for months, but according to Cadena SER's report, a club source revealed that a deal is "far from done." The future of Araujo will be crucial, with the club reportedly preferring to keep him rather than sign Tah as a free agent. However, if Araujo does depart, Barca could use the transfer fee to sign a different target.

Araujo is currently seen as the superior player compared to Tah by the Barcelona hierarchy, and while there are many factors to consider, it would likely take a huge offer for the club to cash in on him this summer. Tah, meanwhile, looks likely to leave Leverkusen for nothing when the transfer window reopens.