Unai Emery may have identified a new January transfer target.placeholder image
Unai Emery may have identified a new January transfer target. | Getty Images
Aston Villa may look to strengthen their defensive options in the January transfer window
Things on the pitch have begun to look significantly rosier for Aston Villa in recent weeks after a poor start to the season left Villans fans feeling increasingly nervous about the season ahead.
Full focus is very much on ensuring this run of form continues, but Unai Emery and his staff may already be casting a watchful eye towards the January transfer window to see any squad improvements which they could make. One potential transfer target has already begun to emerge, according to reports.
Aston Villa surge ahead in race to sign Joel Ordonez over Liverpool
Reported by Caught Offside, Aston Villa have emerged as one of the top suitors to sign 21-year-old Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, who has become a top target for several Premier League sides after a series of strong performances for the Belgian side and his native Ecuador.
Ordonez is reported to be valued at around €50 million (£43m) and was previously also a target for Liverpool, though Caught Offside’s report states that the Reds have ‘cooled’ their interest in the centre-back. The Villans and Newcastle are cited to be the two most likely destinations for the young defender, who has already been capped nine times for his country since making his debut in 2024.
The report adds that further sides look set to soon join the race, meaning Villa may need to make a move quickly if they are to secure a January move for the player.
Ordonez has previously been linked with Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, reported by TBR Football in 2024. They cited Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, who claimed Ordonez is a “complete and dominant” centre-back whose style of play is similar to that of the Germany international. The fact that Villa were stated as having an interest in the Ecuador international at the time in November 2024 reflects the long-standing interest held by Emery’s men.
‘The players responded’ - Emery speaks after Villa secure another victory
While there is still room to add further reinforcements in January, Emery praised his group of players after they showed resilience to come back from a goal down and secure another victory at Spurs on Sunday.
Emery told BBC Match of the Day: "Firstly our supporters were here and they were helping and of course we were playing for them. The way the players responded, even when we were losing 1-0. This is the way we are trying to get better at and try to build the team with this structure. It was a very difficult match of course, and in the end we won.
"It's a match, it's competition. Today starting after the break and following the same more or less positivity and progression we've shown, winning is very important. And of course Tottenham are playing well and performing well, to win here is important for us and the supporters. But of course next week is Manchester City and there is Europa League. Most importantly we are recovering some players. The dressing room is different now.”
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