The Must-Buy Full-Back Duo This Summer — Desmond Needs To Splash The Cash If We’re Serious About Competing In The League And In Europe

If we’re genuinely serious about competing in the Champions League next season, as the board loves to state we are, then the answers at full-back feel painfully obvious.

Buy Julian Araujo.

Buy Marcelo Saracchi.

No dragged-out saga is needed for either. 

Just get both deals finished.

Especially with such a massive rebuild ahead this summer, which I’ve already discussed previously.

We’re potentially losing huge parts of this squad.

The last thing we should be doing is creating even more uncertainty in positions where we already know the solutions.

Because both Araujo and Saracchi have already shown something important this season.

They can handle playing here.

That sounds basic, but it matters massively.

Plenty of players arrive with good reputations and shrink immediately once the pressure starts.

These two haven’t.

They’ve embraced it.

And they’ve matched that fight with actual quality.

Araujo Gives Us Something We’ve Been Missing

Araujo especially feels like a no-brainer.

He gives Johnston real competition for the first time.

Ralston has his role in the squad, but realistically, Johnston has never truly had somebody pushing him consistently other than that one week both Juranovic and Johnston were at the club.

Araujo changes that instantly.

Quick.

Aggressive.

And, importantly, absolutely brilliant at winding that lot up.

There have also already been rumours he’d love to come back permanently, but wages could become the stumbling block.

If we’re penny-pinching over a player who has already proven himself here, then serious questions need asked about ambition again.

The Donovan Debate

There’s the Donovan argument, of course.

Could his pathway get blocked?

Maybe.

But if we’re trying to build a squad capable of surviving Europe, then we need as much ready-made quality as possible.

Young players still need experienced quality around them.

Donovan could benefit long-term from being an understudy to Araujo and Johnston.

And if Donovan is good enough, he’ll force his way into the picture eventually anyway, and if not, then he doesn’t.

That’s football.

Tierney And Johnston Injury Record

Saracchi at points this season, he’s arguably looked better than Tierney.

That’s not disrespect to Tierney either.

Tierney has been brilliant this season.

But Tierney’s body now comes with huge questions attached.

You simply cannot assume he will last 50 game seasons.

The same applies to Johnston as well.

Both have shown this season and in their careers they struggle to get through entire campaigns without issues.

Which is exactly why keeping Araujo and Saracchi makes so much sense.

Because if either full-back goes down, the quality replacement is already there.

Saracchi Has Earned His Stay

Saracchi has looked sharp, aggressive and emotionally invested from the second he arrived.

He actually looks like he enjoys the chaos of playing here.

And supporters have connected with that instantly.

But again, it’s not just passion.

There’s quality there too.

He drives forward like Tierney did in his first period. 

Competes physically.

Doesn’t hide in difficult moments.

That’s exactly the type of profile we need more of.

Which makes the rumours about him becoming frustrated over the lack of movement on a permanent deal even more concerning.

If we somehow let him walk away while scrambling around Europe looking for another left-back with the exact same attributes on deadline day, it’s an embarrassment.

Overcomplicating something straightforward.

This Isn’t “Jobs For The Bhoys” Time

The Andy Robertson links honestly feel a bit “jobs for the bhoys” to me.

Good player? Obviously.

But we can’t just start handing out emotional contracts because somebody supports the club.

Especially when Saracchi is the more obvious solution as to what this team needs. 

I feel if Tierney and Robertson are competing, it could cause issues. Saracchi knows his berth as second choice. The system already works. 

If We Want Champions League Progress, Act Like It

If the board wants supporters to believe there’s ambition behind this rebuild, then this is exactly the type of money we should be spending.

Two of the easiest deals we will do all summer.

Both have shown a fight and willingness for the badge in difficult moments.

And keeping two players who’ve already proved they can handle the pressure and the expectation that comes with playing here.

How can we f*ck this up? Easily I predict…