‘I told Liverpool target to change position – now he could land dream £43m deal’
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez this month as Arne Slot and key figures behind-the-scenes target reinforcements.
Rumoured Liverpool transfer target Joel Ordonez reportedly had dreams of becoming a striker before making the grade as a highly-rated centre-back. The Reds have been strongly linked with a move for Ordonez during January’s transfer window.
Liverpool attempted to bolster their defensive options in the summer with a £35million push for Marc Guehi. But that transfer collapsed when Crystal Palace pulled the plug on a deal which would have brought Guehi to Anfield.
Consequently, Giovanni Leoni remained the sole centre-back addition for Liverpool, prompting fresh speculation about another defensive signing. Ordonez, 21, has emerged as a possible target for Liverpool, according to recent reports, with the Club Brugge star catching the eye during his stint in Belgium this season.
READ MORE: Man City plot Marc Guehi transfer move from under Liverpool’s noses amid injury crisisREAD MORE: Liverpool handed injury boost as forgotten star claims ‘hardest part is over’
There have also been claims Ordonez could be snapped-up for around £43million this month, or next summer if a deal can’t be agreed before the February 2 deadline. Despite his reputation as a promising central defender, Ordonez’s former youth coach Luis Medina has revealed the Ecuador international originally aimed to play up front.
“Joel was a quiet, very thin, silent boy,” Medina told Diario Expreso, via ESPN. “He was actually a striker.
“He now he might go to Liverpool as a defender. There are things God does that one doesn’t understand.”
“I remember that Enner scored three goals in the 2014 World Cup and Joel wanted to be a striker who appeared on television,” Medina added. “He was always an attacker, he had good acceleration, long legs, he was light and very skinny.
“I felt he could be a great defender because he was strong in one-on-one situations, positioned himself well, and won duels. He marked well even without having the basics of a defender.”
Medina also said: “He [Ordonez] was a good striker, but he was better at defending. He told me he wanted to score goals, and I replied that he could prevent them on defence, and that scoring goals was too much responsibility.”
Liverpool have until February 2 to wrap up their transfer dealings, after which the window will shut until the summer.
The Reds have also been heavily linked with moves for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, although both players are now targets for Manchester City this month.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us, and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
