Liverpool are said to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcements for the second half of the 2025/2026 season as the winter transfer window comes to a close.
Joel Ordonez challenges for the ball.
Club Brugge have rejected Crystal Palace's bid for Joel Ordonez. (Image: PA)
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Crystal Palace have reportedly had a £34.6million offer for Joel Ordonez rejected - in what comes as a major boost to Liverpool. The Reds have been heavily linked with the Club Brugge player for the majority of the winter transfer window.
However, it appears that Arne Slot faces stiff competition in the race to secure the centre-back's services, with Palace pushing for a move. The Athletic report that the Eagles are also looking for defensive reinforcement as a result of losing Marc Guehi to Manchester City last month.
Oliver Glasner may have to turn his attention elsewhere after Palace had a deadline day bid for the 21-year-old rebuffed as a result of failing to meet his Belgian club's valuation. It could now give Liverpool the green light to make a last-minute offer of their own.
While the Reds have reached a verbal agreement for a £55m deal for Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet, it is thought that the centre-back will remain with his current club until the summer - to help push on with their Ligue 1 charge. With Liverpool looking incredibly thin with regards to depth in the heart of defence, meanwhile, the club may be wise to find a solution ahead of Monday's 7pm deadline.
It comes as club legend Jamie Carragher urged Slot to scour the market for a defender who is able to play in the second half of 2025/26 on Monday afternoon. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "Liverpool need reinforcements in that area right now, but they definitely need it in the summer.
"It looks as though [Ibrahima] Konate is going to move on - he's still not signed a contract yet. I think they're getting in young centre-backs for the future.
"Unfortunately, [Giovanni] Leoni - who they signed last summer - has got an ACL injury so we won't see him, as well. I would still like to see Liverpool sign another defender today, because I think they will need one before the end of the season."
Jeremy Jacquet runs.
Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement for Jeremy Jacquet. (Image: Getty Images)
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Asked whether the delayed move is frustrating given Liverpool's current injury issues, Carragher added: "Yes. But when the deal has been done with Rennes, that may have been part of the deal over the line.
"It's not going to disrupt their season in France, now, so I can understand it as he is their player - so they have to play by their rules. Liverpool have paid top money. The future bodes well at centre-back, but they have pressing problems right now they need to fix."
Outside of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, Liverpool are, currently, lacking depth at centre-back. Giovanni Leoni suffered an ACL injury on his debut in September and has been ruled out for the rest of the season as a result, while the Reds made the decision to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
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It has been a tough season at Anfield, with Liverpool seeing hopes of defending the title they clinched last May diminish by the week. At present, the club sit sixth place in the Premier League standings; with 11 wins, six draws and seven losses to their name - 14 points behind league leaders, Arsenal.
Up next for the Reds is a home clash with Manchester City on Sunday, February 8, before the team travel to the Stadium of Light three days later to take on Sunderland AFC. Whether any new additions join their first-team for either fixture remains to be seen.
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