Amid reports claiming the £25 million-rated Champions League ace could end up at Aston Villa in 2025, he’s certainly got John McGinn’s seal of approval already.
Speaking back in November, shortly after Aston Villa had suffered their one and only defeat of the Champions League campaign so far, their captain expressed his admiration for a 20-year-old rising star who helped keep Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran quiet a few weeks earlier.
TBR understands that Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez is on Aston Villa’s radar heading into the January transfer window.
A talented, right-sided central defender, Ordonez has been likened to Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger due to his athleticism, speed and his penchant for booming cross-field passes.
And, while McGinn may be let to learn Joel Ordonez’s name, that could soon change. The two Champions League rivals could be reunited in claret and blue in the near future, with Aston Villa eyeing potential replacements for the ageing and inconsistent Diego Carlos.
“It was a tough game actually [against Club Brugge],” McGinn told the Scottish Sun. “They were really organised. We couldn’t really break them down.
“They had a really good young right centre-back. I think he was from Ecuador. He was excellent, probably one of the best players in the park.”
Club's Ecuadorian defender #04 Joel Ordonez attends a press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League football match against Sporting CP, in Br...
Photo by BRUNO FAHY/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa target Joel Ordonez admits he’s keen on Premier League switch
Ordonez will be in Champions League action again on Tuesday night. While Aston Villa travel to Germany to take on RB Leipzig, Club Brugge host Sporting Lisbon in Belgium.
As such, Ordonez will face one of his greatest challenges yet. Far more experienced defenders have tried and failed to keep Viktor Gyokeres at arms’ length, after all.
But another stand-out display against another of Europe’s most feared marksmen will do Ordonez’s chances of a big-money move to English football no harm at all.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of that Sporting clash, the four-time Ecuador international admitted for the first time that a switch across The Channel does indeed hold plenty of appeal.
“The Premier League, I would like that,” Ordonez told the media.
TBR understands that Newcastle joined Aston Villa in watching Ordonez. There is also interest from Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Wolves, while Brighton and Hove Albion are long-time admirers.
The former Independiente del Valle youngster insists that, at this stage, he is in the dark regarding his future however.
“About the interest from abroad? Honestly, I don’t know anything about that at the moment,” he adds. “I’m just trying to focus on Club Brugge and my team. My concentration remains 100 per cent here.
“[Helping my current employers] remains the most important thing.”
Brugge boss admits January exit possible for Villa and Newcastle target
Aston Villa have gone shopping in Brugge before.
Marvelous Nakamba and Wesley Moraes both arrived in the summer of 2019. But while neither player really lived up to expectations – Wesley set Aston Villa back a club-record £22 million but left on a free after an injury-hit spell – it appears that Villa will not let the failures of the past impact their decisions in the present.
Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen, meanwhile, feels that the interest in Ordonez is a compliment to the young defender and the progress he has made in Belgian football.
“That is ultimately what you want as a player,” Hayen says. “What makes me happy is that Joel always does his job despite the interest. When that transfer happens, you have no control over that.
“It could be in the winter but it could also be after this season, which we would prefer.”
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