Newcastle and Liverpool in Transfer Battle for Andrei Ratiu

Newcastle United’s search for defensive steel has taken them to Madrid, where Andrei Ratiu’s rise at Rayo Vallecano has not gone unnoticed – and they are not alone.

According to Marca, Eddie Howe’s side are tracking the Romania international as they look to reshape their back line at St James’ Park. Howe wants reinforcements, and Ratiu has emerged as a serious option on the right, offering both defensive bite and attacking thrust.

Liverpool, though, are on the scene again.

The Merseyside club are also keen on the La Liga defender, setting up a familiar storyline for Newcastle. Earlier in the summer, the Magpies believed they had secured Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna, only for Liverpool to swoop in late and hijack the move. That stung.

This time, Newcastle want to flip the script.

Ratiu, 28, has built a strong reputation in Spain with his work at both ends of the pitch. Last season he delivered four assists across 34 La Liga appearances, having previously produced two goals and three assists in the same number of league games in the 2024-25 campaign. Those numbers, from full-back, explain why several clubs have started circling.

His profile is tailor-made for modern systems. Ratiu is a right-back who can comfortably operate as a winger, driving forward with confident dribbling and sharp passing in the final third. He relishes stepping in to intercept, and his defensive contribution underpins his game rather than being an afterthought. It is the kind of all-round package Newcastle have been seeking on that flank.

They are not alone in England, either. Nottingham Forest are also closely following the situation, with a Premier League move looking increasingly realistic for the Rayo man if the right offer lands on the table.

The interest stretches beyond England. Barcelona have also been linked with Ratiu, attracted by his attacking instincts from deep and his ability to stretch the pitch on the right. When a full-back draws that level of attention in Spain, clubs take notice.

Newcastle, then, find themselves in a crowded race. They can offer a prominent role and a project built around Howe’s aggressive, front-foot football. What they cannot offer next season is European football, and that may count against them when stacked up against Liverpool or Barcelona in the player’s thinking.

For the Magpies, this is about more than one signing. It is a test of whether they can go toe to toe with the game’s heavyweight recruiters and finally land the kind of target that keeps slipping away.