Liverpool ‘brief’ journalists on defender signing after ‘on the verge’ news
Liverpool are not planning to sign Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez in the January window despite recent reports linking him with a move to Anfield.
Ordonez has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs right now amid continued strong form for Belgian side Club Brugge.
The Ecuador international has played 105 times for Brugge since his senior debut in 2023, helping them to respective Pro League, Belgian Cup and Super Cup triumphs in the last two years.
Football Insider revealed in November that Newcastle had registered an interest in Ordonez, with Liverpool and Aston Villa also named as potential suitors.
The Reds have since been closely linked with a move for his services this month, but that has now been deemed unlikely, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.
Liverpool not set to move for Ordonez in the January window
There have been constant question marks around Liverpool’s current centre-back situation, with Ibrahima Konate’s form questioned, while Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.
They failed to get a deal over the line to sign Marc Guehi in the summer, and while fans want to see fresh defensive cover brought in, Ordonez does not look set to move to Merseyside soon.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “These initial rumours came from Ordonez’s native Ecuador, saying that Liverpool are on the verge of signing the Club Brugge defender, but Liverpool have played down that talk.
“They’ve been briefing that they’re not planning to move for Ordonez in this January window. He’s obviously a player that Liverpool have been following, for sure.
“I think he’s a player who a number of top European clubs have been looking at because of his success at Club Brugge.
“That report from his homeland was maybe a bit premature, I don’t think Liverpool are planning to make an offer for Ordonez in this January transfer window.“
Guehi latest as Liverpool fall behind Man City in race for Palace star
Missing out on Guehi was a huge blow for the Reds at the end of the summer window, and their form ever since has shown that Arne Slot definitely needed another centre-back to challenge Van Dijk and Konate.
The England international has continued his impressive form for Palace in the last few months, but despite the Reds’ ongoing interest, Man City are now the frontrunners to sign Guehi as they prepare a January bid.
Liverpool’s preference would be to sign him in the summer window, when his Eagles contract is set to expire, but a transfer offer from City could tempt Palace into a sale this month.
Arsenal are also interested in Guehi, while Real Madrid and Bayern Munich remain in the race for his services, so Liverpool may be forced to look at other options soon as their chances of landing him diminish.