Everton are reportedly interested in signing highly talented Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordonez from Belgian club Club Brugge.
According to a report by Football Insider, Everton will need a fee of around £40 million to sign the Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez in the summer transfer window.
Ordonez has done quite well for the Belgian club in the UEFA Champions League, and he could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for Everton. However, the asking price could complicate matters. It will be interesting to see if Everton are willing to pay that kind of money for him. They need to improve the other areas of their squad as well.
Spending £40 million on the 20-year-old defender could prove to be difficult for them. Everton have shown improvement under David Moyes this season, and they will look to build on it by signing quality players in the summer. A club of their stature should be finishing in the top half regularly, and they need to improve their squad in order for that to happen.
Ordonez would be a future investment
There is no doubt that Joel Ordonez would be a superb acquisition for them and that he could form a quality partnership with Jarrad Branthwaite at the heart of their defence next season. It will be interesting to see if Everton can get the deal across the line. Signing him could sort out their central defensive unit for the foreseeable future.
Although the Ecuadorian whizkid is valued at £40 million now, he could justify the investment in the long run. He has the physical technical attributes to thrive in English football, and Everton could nurture him into a future star.
The transfer could look like a masterstroke in the long run. The opportunity to move to the Premier League can be quite exciting for most players, and the 20-year-old defender could be tempted to join Everton. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.
Regular exposure in English football could accelerate this development and help Ordonez fulfil his tremendous potential. It remains to be seen whether Everton can manage the funds to get the deal across the line. However, the Toffees face stiff competition from other well-known clubs for his signature.