Joel Ordonez has been linked with a move from Club Brugge to Liverpool during the January transfer window
Joel Ordonez has been linked with a move to Liverpool
Joel Ordonez has been linked with a move to Liverpool (Image: (Alex Bierens de Haan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))
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Club Brugge have confirmed that Joel Ordonez will be included in their squad for a week-long training camp amid continued speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool. Reports from his native Ecuador on New Year’s Day suggested that Ordonez was on the verge of joining the Reds from Club Brugge.
However, those reports appeared to be wide of the mark, and it has now been confirmed by Brugge that Ordonez will be among the 30 players who will travel to Marbella in Spain today for a warm-weather training camp.
Brugge are currently second in the Belgian Pro League, one point behind leaders Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, and return to competitive action against Royal Charleroi S.C. in the Belgian Cup a week on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Chronicle are reporting that Liverpool have cooled their interest in Newcastle United centre-back Sven Botman.
The report says that the Dutchman has been tracked by the Reds in recent seasons, but his injury issues have resulted in the Premier League champions taking a look at other targets.
Speaking earlier this month, Reds boss Arne Slot said that Liverpool are keeping an eye open for a chance to strengthen in the transfer window.
He said: "It would be a bit weird if I said during the summer break that we're very happy with the team and then I told you something different now.
Arne Slot speaks to Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes
Arne Slot speaks to Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes
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"You always look at the market, this club has always done that. We did that with the goalkeeper we don't even have at the moment.
“If there's a chance in the market, then this club always tries to bring that chance in, but the team is in a good place.”
Liverpool are back in action against Fulham tomorrow, and Marco Silva has warned his side they will face a team determined to bounce back from their latest setback.
The Reds saw their four-game winning run across all competitions halted after Leeds United battled to a 0-0 draw at Anfield on New Year’s Day.
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk following Liverpool's draw with Leeds United
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk following Liverpool's draw with Leeds United
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And Silva believes: “They had a bad run that made a massive impact on their season so far. Because if you go back for the beginning of the season, after the way they were champions last season, they started with five wins in a row.
“And everybody was talking – okay, they are the same, with some changes, but they are the same, they kept the same winning mentality, they kept the same quality, and they kept winning football matches.
“And [then] comes a bad run, and a bad run that is not normal for them, and it made a massive impact in the points, position on the table and all that stuff. We all agree that is not a normal run for them, not usual for them.
“And, of course, with a different run in that period, we are going to see probably them fighting and to be the contenders that we expect they can be for the title.
“After, they reacted. Yesterday, not the best result or the result they wanted. Credit to Leeds as well because in both games they did very well against them. And they want to react again, they want to be on the right track again.”