Liverpool are reportedly already putting together their plans to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.
The England international is out of contract at Anfield in June – alongside club captain Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah – but the 26-year-old looks to be edging towards an exit.
Real Madrid have been pursuing Liverpool’s No.66 since the end of 2024 and the La Liga giants are heavily rumoured to have agreed a five-year deal with Alexander-Arnold to join as a free agent.
The fast-paced nature of elite football means Liverpool will look to move on quickly and Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley has been proclaimed as a ready-made replacement already within Arne Slot’s squad.
Bradley has impressed when used this season, but Slot wants to ensure there is also experienced cover at right-back, with Joe Gomez potentially moving on in the coming months.
Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong has been linked with a move to Merseyside but Romanian outlet ProSport claim Slot is ready to rival Barcelona for Rayo Vallecano defender Anrei Ratiu.
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Who is Andrei Ratiu: Rayo Vallecano contract, transfer value, stats
Ratiu joined Rayo from Spanish second-tier side Huesca ahead of the 2023/24 season, before catching the eye – quite literally – with his bold blue hair in Romania’s UEFA Euro 2024 campaign.
The 26-year-old has grown in prominence in Vallecas in the current campaign with two goals and three La Liga assists from right-back – as Rayo battle for a first European qualification in two decades.
Rayo have openly acknowledged the growing interest in Ratiu from Barcelona, but Liverpool have now entered the race, with his release clause set at €25m [$27m].
As his current contract runs until 2028, Rayo are under no immediate pressure to sell, and they are eyeing a chance to bring in an increased fee.
Liverpool will be aware ‘replacing’ Alexander-Arnold is an almost impossible task due to his skillset and impact on the current squad.
Ratiu offers a well-rounded package as a full-back as he remains in La Liga’s top ten for dribblers tackled this season [34] and No.1 amongst defenders for successful take-ons [56].
