Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of signing young centre-back Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge.
With the January window officially now open, Reds’ supporters have been desperate to see their club move early to sign a new defender.
Injury to Giovanni Leoni has left Liverpool desperately short at the back this season, and a winter move has begun to feel unavoidable.
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How happy would you be if Liverpool sign Joel Ordonez?
A move is reportedly on the verge of being sealed!
Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge pictured during the UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon de Portugal at Jose Alvalade Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey
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Given the Reds have known Leoni would not be coming back since September, they have had plenty of time to plan and assess who could be available for a January deal.
As Rousing The Kop exclusively revealed in October, Brugge were always open to letting Ordonez leave in the new year, and the Ecuadorian press are now reporting why the 21-year-old has chosen to join Liverpool over other options such as Chelsea.
Joel Ordonez picks Liverpool for ‘sporting project’
While Liverpool’s rumoured move for Ordonez is yet to be given credence by the English press, over in Ecuador they are fairly certain he is on his way to Anfield.
According to Expreso, the Reds are now ‘one signature away’ from getting the transfer over the line.
Joel Ordonez pictured in action during Club Brugge's UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal.
Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
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Liverpool are said to have come out on top in a ‘direct battle’ against Chelsea and Inter Milan, with Ordonez reportedly choosing the Premier League champions thanks to the better sporting project on offer.
The move is seemingly not done just yet, but Expreso claim Michael Edwards has been put in charge of finalising things over the coming days.
Ordonez’s salary and personal terms have already reportedly been agreed, with ‘final details’ and medical checks being the only things stopping the youngster from becoming a Liverpool player.
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Yan Diomande in action during RB Leipzig's Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen at the Red Bull Arena (Credit: Getty Images/Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto).
Said El Mala celebrates after scoring for FC Koln during their Bundesliga match against St Pauli (Credit: Getty Images/Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/Ralf Ibing – firo/Sportphoto
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Liverpool finally get some good news
If Liverpool do tie up Ordonez early into the January window, it will be exactly the positive injection the fanbase needs.
Thursday’s dour 0-0 draw against Leeds has spiralled supporters back into the negativity of a season which is still waiting for lift-off.
Beating Chelsea in a transfer battle has been a long time coming, with the Blues having pipped them to a number of high-profile players in recent years, including Ordonez’s Ecuador teammate Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea also signed Ordonez’s namesake Deinner, who Liverpool were credited with interest in only hours before his move to Stamford Bridge was agreed.
Although the Club Brugge man is unlikely to come in as an immediate starter, his arrival will add some much-needed strength in depth and could make all the difference in the second half of the campaign.
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