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Fabrizio Romano has come out to address some Liverpool transfer speculation.
The Reds have already secured their first piece of January business, agreeing a summer deal for 17-year-old Austria Vienna centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe, a player who will arrive post-July when he turns 18. Beyond that youth investment, speculation has swirled around potential moves for more immediate first-team additions.
One name that has dominated headlines in recent days is Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez. Reports from South American outlets on New Year’s Day suggested Liverpool had outbid rivals Chelsea and were on the verge of completing a £43 million deal for the 21-year-old Ecuadorian defender. The reports claimed a deal had been agreed and that an official announcement was imminent – suggesting Ordonez was merely “one signature away” from becoming a Red.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, those claims require significant scrutiny.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Italian transfer guru explained that although Liverpool like the player, suggestions of a deal being done are wide of the mark as things stand:
“What I can tell you guys, I was checking once again today [Sunday], Liverpool are following the player, for sure, he’s one they are tracking, monitoring, scouting. But Liverpool follow thousands of players every year, so at this stage nothing more than this,”
“They have a very good relationship with Brugge, so this is probably why the links are being pushed so much in the media. What I can tell you is that at the moment Liverpool have not agreed any deal for Ordonez, have not agreed any personal terms, have not started an official conversation.”
“Following the player, yes, if anything changes I will let you know but at the moment from Liverpool, nothing really official or concrete for Joel Ordonez.”
Club Brugge opted to include him in their Marbella training camp squad this week, further evidence that a move to Anfield is not forthcoming just yet.
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