Lewis Steele reveals the real reason Liverpool signed Ronald Araujo

Lewis Steele reveals the real reason Liverpool signed Ronald Araujo Liverpool Unlikely to Sign Another Defender After Ronald Araujo Arrival Liverpool’s defensive business may already be finished for the summer. Jeremy Jacquet has arrived, Ronald Araujo has joined on a season long loan from Barcelona, and according to Lewis Steele, the club’s attention is now moving firmly towards the forward line. Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Steele addressed Liverpool’s defensive situation, including Jacquet’s fitness, Araujo’s role and the likelihood of another defender arriving before the transfer deadline. His assessment was fairly clear. “I don’t think so,” Steele said when asked whether Liverpool should be expected to make another defensive signing. “But you never know.” For now, the priority appears to have shifted elsewhere. “I think the word internally is forwards, forwards, forwards now.” Jeremy Jacquet Fitness Remains a Concern Liverpool’s defensive planning has been complicated by Jeremy Jacquet’s fitness. Davis highlighted how the expected timeline for Jacquet’s return had changed during pre season, with the defender still waiting to get properly involved. Steele admitted that the situation remained a concern. “This is part of the reason why all summer I’ve been saying they need to sign a defender, which you now obviously have,” he said. Steele also explained why Liverpool could not simply rely on Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni immediately. “I don’t think you can trust Jacquet or Leoni this first half of the season anyway, because A, they’re not fit.” He added that even when both become available, there will still be another challenge. “They’re going to take time to bed in.” That concern helps explain why Liverpool moved for Araujo. Ronald Araujo Adds Experience and Versatility Steele believes Araujo gives Liverpool something that Jacquet and Leoni cannot yet provide, experience at the highest level. Discussing the Uruguay international, Steele said: “He’s won three La Ligas. He’s played, you know, best part of, what is it, three hundred-ish games for Barca.” Steele also stressed that Araujo is not necessarily arriving to become an automatic first choice centre back. “I think he’s not coming in as the second choice centre back. I think we need to make that clear. He’s coming in to provide a cover.” That cover could be valuable because of Araujo’s ability to operate in more than one position. “He can do that at both centre half and right back, which I think ticks a lot of boxes, to be honest.” For Liverpool, that versatility appears to reduce the need for another defensive addition. Steele also pointed towards Araujo’s personality and mentality. “He’s versatile, he’s a leader, he’s experienced.” That profile, in Steele’s view, fills an obvious gap. “It’s exactly something that Liverpool have been lacking for the last, or since Konate left, let’s say.” Photo: liverpoolfc.com Liverpool Defensive Business Could Be Complete Davis directly asked whether Liverpool supporters should now expect the club to stop recruiting defensively. Steele’s response suggested that is currently the most likely outcome. “I don’t think so. I don’t think so. But you never know.” He then made the club’s current focus clear. “I think the word internally is forwards, forwards, forwards now.” Steele did mention Myles Lewis Skelly as a player whose reported availability raised an interesting question because of his ability to operate in midfield and at left back. However, he immediately returned to Liverpool’s current position. “As it stands, not expecting more defenders to come through the door.” There was also an acknowledgement that left back could still be debated, although Steele framed that around quality rather than numbers. “Not light, they’ve got the numbers, it’s more of a quality thing, I think.” Liverpool Hope Defensive Crisis Is Beginning to Ease Liverpool still have injury issues to manage. Steele said Jacquet was expected to return to training soon, while Araujo would also begin working with the squad. “The defensive crisis is slowly starting to ease,” he said. He also suggested Leoni could return around mid September, while Conor Bradley remained further away. “There’s worries, but I think they’re starting to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel of the defensive crisis.” That appears to be the calculation Liverpool are making. Jacquet has already arrived, Araujo adds experience and positional flexibility, and injured defenders should gradually return. Unless circumstances change, Steele’s information suggests Liverpool are now prepared to leave the defence alone and concentrate their remaining efforts further forward. With the transfer deadline approaching, the emphasis has shifted. As Steele put it, Liverpool’s focus now is simple: “forwards, forwards, forwards.”