Real Madrid identify €15 million-rated La Liga right-back as a potential transfer target | OneFootball

Earlier this week, Lucas Vazquez expressed uncertainty over his future at Real Madrid and the Spaniard’s mental turbulence clarifies that the club are indeed considering new signings in the position next summer.

After all, Real Madrid are without a young long-term solution at right-back and are scouting the market intensely for a new name who can provide depth in the department.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has emerged as the single-biggest favourite to arrive, especially given that he will be a free agent next summer. However, it is safe to say that his signing cannot be taken for granted until it has been secured on paper.

Florentino Perez and Co. thus continue to maintain their eyes on potential alternatives and they have now spotted an option at Rayo Vallecano.

The Romanian star

As relayed in a recent report by Fichajes, Rayo Vallecano’s right-back Andrei Ratiu has caught the interest of not only Real Madrid but also several others of Europe’s elite as an option for the upcoming transfer windows.

Andrei Ratiu is on Real Madrid’s radars. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

At 26 years of age, he is not necessarily as young of a profile as Real Madrid would have hoped for. What he does provide, however, is a good blend of youth and experience that Real Madrid currently lack.

Ratiu has been a consistent performer in La Liga this season, holding his own in defence and also chipping in with vital contributions in attack, and thus ticks the boxes Ancelotti is looking for in a new right-back.

So far this season, he has made 16 starts in the league, scoring one goal and providing one assist in the process. He averages 0.8 key passes and over five defensive actions per game.

His starting price is expected to be around the €15 million mark but could well skyrocket upwards given that his contract with Rayo Vallecano runs until 2028. With leverage over the 26-year-old’s future, the La Liga side will not let him go cheap.

It thus remains to be seen if Los Blancos maintain their interest in the star, especially given that he is untested at the highest level.