This summer Liverpool will be looking for a new right back if Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves the club on a free transfer, where Arne Slot needs more backup to existing option Conor Bradley
Liverpool may have found a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold after identifying Andrei Ratiu, who has a release clause of only £ 21 million. The Reds scrape for the exit of their Academy star while approaching the end of his contract, without an agreement for an expected new deal.
The international of England looks like a free transfer at Real Madrid and Liverpool will have to move quickly to replace him if they want to dominate English football if they will win the Premier League this season as expected.
The Romanian defender Ratiu has emerged as a transfer target for Liverpool after a few impressive displays for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga this season – helping the team to push an unlikely European place. They are currently seventh in the table. However, Liverpool can have competition in their pursuit of Ratiu, where Pep Guardiola's Manchester City would also be interested in the player.
German Outlet Bild has claimed that Ratiu will be available at an agile price of only £ 21 million this summer, thanks to its release clause. But another key in the making is that Villarreal has a purchasing clause of just £ 6 million – and they also get 50 percent of the transfer rights.
Ratiu started 26 times this season in La Liga and tested himself against stars such as Raphinha by Barcelona and Vinicius JR from Real Madrid – so he would have little trouble adapting to the pace and quality of the Premier League.
He has only missed two of Rayo's 29 League matches, with two goals and three assists so far. The club is so far satisfied with its progress and hope to keep him, but his realistic about his future and are aware that a rival team could pay his release clause.
Rayo's sports director David Cobeno said: “We are very happy with Andrei here. The motto is always the same: those who want him must pay his release clause.
'We have very confidence in the future. Time will learn whether he will stay with us or whether someone else pays his release clause. '
There has been little new about the future of Alexander-Arnold, but reports last week claimed that the Spanish giants are taking a deal to take him to the Bernabeu.
Finally, I cannot close a deal for Ratiu, there must be many alternatives to keep an eye on. Other right backs that are linked to Liverpool are Bayer Leverkusen-star Jeremie Frimpong and Freiburg player Kiliann Sildillia.
Slot could also put his confidence in another graduate Academy in Conor Bradley, who has shown that he is able to play at the highest level on many occasions.
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