Liverpool agree to sign Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo on loan as Jacquet cover

• Andoni Iraola moves to improve defensive options

• Uruguay defender expected to complete his medical

Liverpool have agreed to sign Ronald Araújo on a season-long loan from Barcelona after Andoni Iraola was faced with lack of defensive options for the start of the new season.

Concerns over Jérémy Jacquet – the France Under -21 defender who arrived last season for more than £50m – and injuries to Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni have left Liverpool short of options at the back after the departure of Ibrahima Konaté on a free transfer to Real Madrid.