Liverpool look set to miss out on a deal to sign Antoine Semenyo from Premier League side Bournemouth, as he closes in on a move to their rivals.
Manchester City are reportedly close to sealing a swoop for the Ghana international after positive talks with the Cherries, and the transfer could be completed in the coming days now that the January transfer window is open.
The Reds were said to be in the race to land the £65m-rated left winger at the end of last month, but the Cityzens appear to have won the race for his signature.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring their first goal
Semenyo's return of nine goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, suggest that it is a blow for Liverpool to miss out on his services this month.
Liverpool set to sign £43m star in January
However, the reigning Premier League champions are reportedly closing in on another player who could be an even better signing than Semenyo.
According to the Mirror, Liverpool are set to complete a deal to sign Club Brugge central defender Joel Ordonez in the January transfer window.
The report claims that the Reds are poised to wrap up a move for the Ecuador international 'in the coming days', as they close in on their first signing of the month.
joel-ordonez-aston-villa
It adds that the initial fee for the centre-back is expected to be around £35m, but it could rise to £43m if add-ons are achieved, with Arne Slot keen to bolster his backline.
The outlet explains that Giovanni Leoni's ACL injury and the fact that Ibrahima Konate's contract expires at the end of the season have played a part in Liverpool's move for Ordonez.
Ordonez vs Van Dijk stats
Why Ordonez is a better signing than Semenyo
Whilst missing out on Semenyo will be frustrating, because of his impressive output at the top end of the pitch this season, the Club Brugge centre-back could be an even better signing for the second half of the campaign and beyond.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo
Liverpool currently rank joint-fifth for goals in the Premier League this season, with 30 goals scored. Meanwhile, they rank joint-10th for goals conceded, with 26, and only eight teams have conceded more goals.
Konate's individual errors have been costly for the Reds. Liverpool podcaster and writer Eddie Gibbs described him as "Liverpool’s most alarming fault line" who "looks like a footballer fighting his own reflection" earlier this season.
Jamie Carragher ripped into his defensive work in the 3-3 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road last month, as his defending partially led to the team giving up 2-0 and 3-2 leads.
The France international has been too much of a defensive liability this term, with six errors leading to shots, goals or penalties, per Sofascore, and Ordonez could come in to improve Slot's backline by providing a more reliable presence alongside Virgil van Dijk.
25/26 season (all comps) Konate Ordonez
Appearances 24 21
Error led to shot 4 1
Error led to goal 1 0
Penalties committed 1 0
Dribbled past 6x 5x
Fouls committed 28 18
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Club Brugge star has only made one error in 21 appearances in the Pro League and the Champions League combined this season, whilst he has also committed ten fewer fouls than the Liverpool flop.
These statistics suggest that Ordonez is less likely to make costly errors at the back for the Reds, which could tighten up their defence and improve their defensive record in the second half of the campaign.
Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez and Romeo Vermant
The 21-year-old star, who was described as "imressively complete" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also a consistent defender, as he only made one error that led to a shot or a goal for the opposition in his first two seasons in the Pro League with Club Brugge, per Sofascore.
Therefore, Ordonez would be an even better signing than Semenyo could have been because he has the quality to have a bigger short-term impact in an area of the pitch that Liverpool have struggled more in, whilst he is also four years younger than the attacker and has more scope to develop further in the future.
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The Reds are still chasing an attacking reinforcement.
The Ecuador international is also five years younger than Konate, whose contract expires in the summer, and this piece of business could ensure that they have their new long-term right-sided centre-back in the building already.