Tottenham Hotspur submit €35m bid for Barcelona defender

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their defensive rebuild by tabling a €35 million proposal for a struggling Barcelona defender.

The Premier League side’s proposal, built around €30 million guaranteed plus a further €5 million in realistically achievable add-ons, lands at a delicate moment for Barça, who remain trapped between sporting ambition and financial constraint.

The structure of the bid is now being dissected by both the sporting hierarchy and the finance department, as they weigh whether cashing in on an out-of-form regular is a necessary sacrifice to unlock moves in other key positions.

That defender is Ronald Araujo, whose 2025/26 form dip has complicated his previously “untouchable” status in Hansi Flick’s squad, as reported by Fichajes.

The Uruguayan has featured 19 times this season, but uncharacteristic lapses, inconsistency, and a stop-start rhythm have raised concerns that his market value may stagnate or decline if the trajectory continues.

For a club still operating under financial strain, the chance to cash in at €35m has inevitably triggered debate.​

Thomas Frank’s side wants a physically dominant, aggressive defender with top-level experience who can thrive in the Premier League’s open, transition-heavy game, and they believe England’s tempo could help Araujo rediscover his best version.

Tottenham Hotspur view him as an ideal partner for Cristian Romero, adding leadership and recovery pace to a high defensive line.

Inside Barcelona, opinions are sharply divided. On one side, there is recognition that selling a 26-year-old leader, hugely respected in the dressing room for commitment and mentality, would be a major sporting gamble.

On the other hand, voices argue that the fee would free up wage-bill space and create room to reinforce priority positions such as centre-forward or a left-sided centre-back more suited to Flick’s build-up demands.​

What is clear is that Tottenham’s bid has opened a genuine dilemma at Camp Nou—between financial logic and the fear of losing a core dressing-room reference.