Fulham in talks for Rayo Vallecano defender Ratiu

What the report says

Fulham are in talks to sign Romania defender Andrei Ratiu from Spanish club Rayo Vallecano, according to BBC Sport Football. The 28-year-old is said to be open to a move to Craven Cottage, with negotiations still ongoing as Fulham look to strengthen their defence before the transfer deadline on Tuesday night.

BBC Sport reports that Ratiu is mainly a right-back but can also operate in other positions. He has spent most of his club career in Spain after coming through Villarreal’s academy, aside from a loan spell at ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands. He later joined Huesca before making his La Liga debut for Rayo Vallecano in 2023.

The move would fit into a busy end to the window for Fulham, who have already added several players, including striker Gonzalo Garcia and attacker Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, midfielder Shea Charles from Southampton, and Jonah Kusi-Asare on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich.

For context, Fulham began their Premier League campaign with a home defeat by Chelsea and then beat AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. The club’s interest in Ratiu comes as the squad is being reshaped under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who BBC Sport says is keen to add more defensive depth.