'This is what I'm told' - Fabrizio Romano drops transfer update on Liverpool 'done deal' for Joel Ordonez
Liverpool cherry picked some of Europe’s finest young talents in the summer and have another on their radar.
It is the one position that Liverpool don’t strengthen in the summer having spent most of the transfer window being linked with improving it.
Liverpool’s failed pursuit of Marc Guehi could see them miss out on the Crystal Palace captain, however, there is a lengthy list of alternative options. Nico Schlotterbeck isn’t extending his contract at Borussia Dortmund with Dayot Upamecano also offered and a possible senior defender who could be signed.
Is Joel Ordonez closing in on Liverpool move?
Reports suggested that The Reds were signing Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge, only for transfer supremo Fabrizio Romano to give an update that isn’t quite as final.
“Many questions on Joel Ordonez with reports saying that a deal is already done with Liverpool,” the journalist said on his YouTube channel. “What I can tell you guys is that the relationship with Liverpool and Brugge is very good, it’s an excellent relationship, this is what I’m told. But at the moment Liverpool are scouting Ordonez, as they are scouting many players, but nothing done or agreed at this stage.”
Ordonez has a similar profile to Giovanni Leoni in that he is only 20-years old but hugely experienced already and mature beyond his years. The original claims came from Ecuador which suggests that agents may have played a part in getting g their client’s name out into mainstream media and to perhaps inspire other teams to take a look.
Ordonez catches the eye of head scout
Liverpool will always keep an eye on emerging talent in Europe and Ordonez has been exposed to Champions League football with Brugge. Patrick Montgomery, Liverpool’s head scout until 2024, reckons that his former club would be future proofing themselves by signing the powerhouse defender.
Speaking to The Breakdown, Montgomery said: “I think to be honest, he’s definitely improved. I think he’s been somebody that’s taken a step away from one of the bigger clubs that he’s come through the youth system of. He’s obviously become now an internationally recognised player. Somebody that I think when teams look at him, he’s Premier League proven.
“He’s played a lot of games now at a very high level. I think he’s shown what his attributes are, and I think for a club like Liverpool, for any of the bigger clubs, he’d be a very interesting prospect to bring in.”
Liverpool are at the beginning of a new cycle and assembling the continent’s best youngsters could bring a sustained period of success rather than one off title wins.