Liverpool Targets Andrei Rațiu for Right-Back Rebuild
Liverpool are preparing an opening bid for Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei Rațiu as Andoni Iraola pushes for a decisive upgrade at right-back in his first summer at Anfield.
The Spaniard has already been backed with the signing of Victor Munoz from Osasuna and is ready to raid La Liga again, this time for a player he believes can live with the intensity and scrutiny of the Premier League.
On paper, Liverpool look stocked at right-back. Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are already in the squad. In reality, last season exposed how fragile that depth really was. Frimpong and Bradley both spent time in the treatment room, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold gone to Real Madrid on a free, Arne Slot was forced into awkward compromises.
Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai both found themselves shunted into an emergency full-back role. It cost Liverpool balance in midfield and, as the campaign began to unravel, it became painfully clear that the position could no longer be left to improvisation.
That is the context in which Rațiu’s name has surged to the top of Iraola’s list.
Rațiu: undervalued in Spain, in demand in England
At 28, Rațiu is not a prospect. He is a ready-made defender with a substantial body of work in one of Europe’s toughest leagues. Since joining Rayo three years ago, he has made 102 appearances and quietly built a reputation as one of the most underrated right-backs in La Liga.
The Romanian has 38 caps for his country and has already been named Romanian Footballer of the Year. On the continental stage, he played a central role in Rayo Vallecano’s run to the UEFA Conference League final earlier this year, where they were finally stopped by Crystal Palace.
Those performances have convinced Iraola that Rațiu can handle the leap to Anfield. According to SportsBoom, Frimpong is still expected to remain first-choice next season, but the Liverpool head coach wants a “closer competitor” for that starting role. Rațiu is viewed as the kind of signing who can push the current incumbent, not simply cover for him.
What that would mean for academy graduate Bradley is unclear. The 20-year-old has been earmarked as one for the future, but the arrival of a seasoned international in his position would inevitably squeeze his minutes and test his resolve.
Tough negotiators, firm belief
Liverpool know they are not dealing with a distressed seller. Vallecano, boosted by their European run and in a strong contractual position, are expected to demand around £25 million for Rațiu.
The defender only signed a new long-term deal in November 2025, tying him to the club for another four years. That security gives Rayo little incentive to fold quickly.
Even so, Liverpool are said to be confident they can get a deal done. The plan is to construct an offer that leans heavily on performance-related add-ons, giving Vallecano the chance to profit from Rațiu’s success in England while keeping the initial outlay within a manageable range.
For Iraola, it is about value as much as profile. He is convinced Rațiu offers both: a player good enough to compete for regular minutes now, and experienced enough to cope with the rotation that comes with Liverpool’s fixture load.
Defensive rebuild gathers pace
Rațiu would not arrive in isolation. Liverpool’s defensive reshaping is already well under way.
The club will confirm another major addition next week when Jeremy Jacquet completes his £55 million move from Rennes. The deal was agreed on deadline day of the winter window, with the French defender allowed to finish the season in Ligue 1 before crossing the Channel.
There was early concern when Jacquet suffered a serious shoulder injury shortly after his transfer was announced, but his rehabilitation has stayed on track. He is expected to be available for initial pre-season testing early next month, a significant boost for a back line that has been stretched too often.
Giovanni Leoni, another young centre-back, is also closing in on a return. The 19-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup last September and has not played since. His presence at the start of pre-season would further deepen Iraola’s options in the middle of defence.
The message from Liverpool is clear. Last season’s makeshift solutions and positional experiments will not be repeated. The right side of defence, in particular, is being rebuilt with intent.
If the Rațiu deal can be driven over the line, Iraola will head into his first campaign at Anfield with something Liverpool lacked for too long in that area of the pitch: genuine, relentless competition.
