Crystal Palace submit bid for defender after personal terms agreed with Liverpool
Crystal Palace are eyeing a late move for a centre-back who is was strongly linked with Liverpool earlier in the transfer window
Crystal Palace have made a move to sign centre-back Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge, amid previous links to Liverpool during the January window.
Reports from South America earlier this month claimed that the player had agreed personal terms with Liverpool while a £35m deal was close to being finalised for the Ecuadorian.
According to a more recent update from Daily Mail Liverpool reporter Lewis Steele, the player remains somebody who is on the radar of the Anfield club despite a move not materialising since the reports from across the Atlantic earlier this month.
He told the Redmen TV podcast: “The Ordonez one was parked, as you say. Parked, as in not completely shoved away, I got the impression.
“It was more of a, ‘not one right now,’ but it wasn’t a, ‘he’s not one ever.’ It’s clear Liverpool have been at Club Brugge games to watch him, so that could be one to consider.”
The Athletic have now reported that Palace have made a bid for the 21-year-old but have seen it rejected. The Selhurst Park club are yet to replace Marc Guehi, after selling him to Manchester City earlier this month.
The Reds had hoped Guehi would remain at Palace with the defender intent on not signing a new contract. Liverpool could have then signed him on a free transfer at the end of the season but City’s move for the player dashed those hopes.
Ordonez is under contract at Brugge until 2029 after signing a contract extension at the club in the summer. Liverpool are unlikely to make a move before the 7pm deadline but a summer move cannot be ruled out.
They are set to complete a deal for Jeremy Jacquet, with the Frenchman to join the Anfield club in the summer. Liverpool have three senior centre-backs out of contract within the next 18 months, so a summer move for Ordonez could still make sense for the Reds. If Palace don’t get there first.