Liverpool to sign 35m Chelsea target in January
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Liverpool in Pole Position for £35m Joel Ordonez Signing After Chelsea Withdraw
Liverpool are leading the race to sign Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez for £35 million (€40m) in the January transfer window, following Chelsea's withdrawal from negotiations.
The 21-year-old Ecuador international has emerged as a key target for the Reds after their summer pursuit of Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi collapsed. Liverpool had agreed a £35m fee and personal terms with Guehi, but the deal fell through on deadline day when Palace couldn't secure a replacement. Despite the setback, Liverpool remain interested in Guehi long-term, planning a potential free transfer next summer rather than revisiting in January.
Ordonez, a standout in the Belgian Pro League, offers versatility as a centre-back and right-back. Liverpool and Chelsea initially contacted Brugge earlier this month, with both the club and player open to a January move. However, Chelsea have pulled out—though no specific reason is given—leaving Liverpool as frontrunners despite interest from Inter Milan.
Manager Arne Slot's side have been impressed by Ordonez's performances for Ecuador internationally. The Daily Mail reports Liverpool are also monitoring Brentford's Nathan Collins and Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix as alternative centre-back options for January.
Guehi continues to feature in Liverpool's strategy, with Sky Sports noting they lead the chase ahead of Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich. BBC Sport confirms the preference for a Bosman move next year.
This development positions Liverpool strongly to bolster their defense mid-season, capitalizing on Chelsea's retreat and Ordonez's availability.
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