Liverpool's £21m Alexander-Arnold replacement wanted by Man City and Barcelona

If Liverpool were hoping to have a clear run at one replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold then it looks like they are going to be disappointed.

The 26-year-old right-back appears to be on the way out of Anfield with a blockbuster free transfer to Real Madrid reportedly in the works.

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Talk over Trent’s departure intensified last week with sporting director Richard Hughes seemingly having little hope of convincing the England international to extend his spell at the club.

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And while Liverpool boast Conor Bradley in the ranks, the Northern Irishman could do with some backup and competition given his recent patchy injury record.

Wesley Franca, Vanderson, Lutsharel Geertruida and Jeremie Frimpong are some of the names linked as a potential incoming right-back but rumours around one defender in particular appear to have EXPLODED over the last few days.

Top clubs want Andrei Ratiu

Andrei Ratiu, a 26-year-old Romania international who plays for Rayo Vallecano, was named by Romanian media as a Liverpool target.

With a €25 million (£21m) release clause, it was speculated that the Reds could opt to pay up and welcome the attack-minded defender to the ranks in place of Alexander-Arnold.

If only life were that simple.

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Reports around the continent now claim that several top Champions League clubs are interested in Ratiu, whose playing rights are co-owned by Villarreal, and who is under contract at Rayo until 2028.

El Nacional in Catalonia claims that Barcelona would like a specialist right-back instead of utilising a specialist centre-back like Jules Kounde in the position.

The same publication also states that Pep Guardiola is seeking to fill a Kyle Walker-shaped hole at Manchester City by bringing Ratiu to the club.

Ratiu has €25m clause

"According to sources close to the player, City have intensified their interest in recent weeks, seeking to strengthen a position weakened by the departure of Kyle Walker,” the report states.

“For their part, Barça see Rațiu as a strategic opportunity to solve a structural problem within the team: the lack of a natural right-back following the departure of João Cancelo and the forced use of centre-backs like Koundé and [Ronald] Araujo in that role.”

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AS, meanwhile, states that Bayer Leverkusen have got their eye on Ratiu as the face the prospect of losing Frimpong in summer. Of course, he could be heading to Liverpool if reports are to be believed, leaving a gap for Ratiu to come to Xabi Alonso’s club.

With all these super-clubs bidding on his services it remains to be seen whether Ratiu will select Liverpool as his favourite option.

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One other consideration is that Villarreal may opt to use their €7m buy-back option on Ratiu, meaning clubs will be negotiating with them instead.

The race for Ratiu is set to get hotter as summer approaches.