Newcastle and Liverpool Compete for Andrei Ratiu

Newcastle United and Liverpool are circling Rayo Vallecano right-back Andrei Ratiu, with the Premier League rivals set for another skirmish in the transfer market, according to Marca.

Eddie Howe has made defensive reinforcements a priority at St James’ Park. His back line has been stretched, patched up and asked to do too much for too long, and the Newcastle manager wants fresh legs and energy on the flanks. Ratiu, a Romania international with a relentless engine and an eye for the final ball, has moved high on the list.

Newcastle know exactly who they are up against. Liverpool are also pushing for the La Liga defender, and memories on Tyneside are still raw after the Merseyside club snatched Victor Munoz from under their noses earlier in the summer. Newcastle believed they had a deal in place for the Spanish winger from Osasuna, only for Liverpool to hijack it late and walk away with the signing.

That sting has not faded. This time, the mood is very different: beat Liverpool to Ratiu, or watch another target head to Anfield.

Nottingham Forest are in the frame as well, tracking the 28-year-old as they look to add experience and dynamism on the right. With multiple Premier League clubs circling, a move to England is starting to feel like the natural next step in Ratiu’s career.

His numbers back up the interest. The Rayo full-back produced four assists in 34 La Liga games last season, having previously delivered two goals and three assists in the same number of league appearances in 2024-25. Those figures underline a defender who does far more than just hold his position and clear his lines.

Ratiu’s attacking profile has even drawn links with Barcelona. His ability to step higher up the pitch, operate as a winger when required, and carry the ball with purpose has not gone unnoticed. He dribbles with intent, passes with conviction and offers the sort of width and delivery Newcastle have lacked at times in the final third.

He is not just a forward-thinking full-back, though. Ratiu relishes defensive work, reads passing lanes and throws himself into interceptions. That blend of aggression without the ball and composure with it is exactly what top clubs now demand from their modern full-backs.

Newcastle’s challenge is clear. They want Ratiu, they need reinforcements, and they are determined not to lose another head-to-head battle with Liverpool. Yet one factor could tilt the race: there will be no European football at St James’ Park next season. For a player attracting attention from clubs with continental ambitions, that absence may prove decisive.

Newcastle must now convince Ratiu that the project, the platform and the promise of a leading role in Howe’s side outweigh the lure of European nights elsewhere.