Image Credits: Imago Images
The February transfer window is slamming shut across Europe, and Liverpool have been right at the heart of deadline day drama. The Reds have successfully completed negotiations for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet in a deal worth up to £60 million, with the 20-year-old France Under-21 international set to undergo his medical on Monday before officially joining Arne Slot’s squad in the summer.
Liverpool agreed a £55 million guaranteed fee plus £5 million in add-ons, beating Chelsea to the punch after the Blues withdrew when they decided to recall Mamadou Sarr from his Strasbourg loan and retain Josh Acheampong.
While Liverpool have been celebrating their defensive coup, another Reds target has been the subject of a bid.
Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws has reported that Crystal Palace submitted what they described as a “monstrous bid” for 21-year-old defender Joel Ordonez over the weekend.
It is claimed that Club Brugge refused “a record amount of at least 40 million euros for him”. Crucially however, it is reported that the Belgian giants have rejected the offer, adamant they will not sell players so close to the end of the window.
Ordonez has been on the Reds’ radar for an extended period, with Anfield scouts regularly monitoring his development at Club Brugge, where he has made over 100 appearances despite being just 21 years old.
Liverpool’s scouting department maintains a strong relationship with Independiente del Valle, the Ecuadorian academy that produced Ordonez before his 2021 move to Belgium—the same academy that has developed Premier League talents like Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho, and Piero Hincapie.
For the Reds, Palace’s unsuccessful attempt may actually represent good news. While some reports suggested the Reds’ interest was “more future-focused” given the Jacquet agreement, the collapse of Palace’s move means Ordonez could still be available in the summer transfer window.
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