Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo during one of the upcoming transfer windows.
The 22-year-old has established himself as a regular at Camp Nou this season, making 10 starts and six substitute appearances in all competitions.
However, with just 19 months remaining on his contract and Barcelona open to player sales, speculation persists that the Uruguay international could soon move to the Premier League.
According to El Nacional, Chelsea have signalled their intent to sign the centre-back, viewing him as a potential replacement for Antonio Rudiger.
The report claims that Blues owner Roman Abramovich has held discussions with the player and reached an agreement over financial terms.
With Araujo starting recent games against Villarreal, Real Betis and Bayern Munich, Barcelona must decide whether they are willing to part ways with Araujo in January.
Darren Plant
