Liverpool are pushing to sign Romanian right-back Andrei Ratiu from Rayo Vallecano this summer, with a cut-price deal potentially on the horizon.
Reports via TEAMtalk, citing Anfield Index, claim the Merseyside club have expressed serious interest in the 28-year-old fullback ahead of the new season.
Liverpool are set to trigger Ratiu’s £21m release clause but are optimistic about securing the player for less than that stated fee.
However, the Reds face fierce competition from Barcelona, with the Spanish champions also reported to be keen on landing the Romanian international this summer.
The right-back position has become a pressing concern for Arne Slot’s side following a string of damaging injuries to his available options throughout the campaign.
Conor Bradley suffered a season-ending injury in January, while Jeremie Frimpong has already spent 117 days on the sidelines since joining the club, missing 25 matches in total.
The situation has forced players including Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, and Wataru Endo into unfamiliar right-back roles to cover for the absentees.
Liverpool had previously been offered the chance to sign Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, but the Dutch full-back has since completed a move to Real Madrid instead.
Ratiu has developed into a key player for Rayo Vallecano and possesses qualities that stretch well beyond those of a conventional fullback, regularly making intelligent forward runs and drifting into central areas to exploit space.
Liverpool have already been active in the transfer market this summer, completing a deal for Victor Muñoz from Osasuna and beating Newcastle United to secure the winger’s signature.
Jeremy Jacquet has also arrived at Anfield among the club’s summer business, though recruitment efforts are clearly continuing at pace.
The Reds are additionally preparing a second bid for Yan Diomande after RB Leipzig rejected their opening offer of £86m for the midfielder.
Signing Ratiu for less than his £21m release clause would represent strong value, but Liverpool must first see off the threat posed by Barcelona to get the deal done.