Liverpool Close In on Joel Ordonez as Defensive Woes Force Action
Liverpool are closing in on a £43 million move for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez as Arne Slot moves to address a defensive collapse that has derailed the club’s Premier League title defence.
The Ecuador international has emerged as a priority target after Liverpool’s back line, once the foundation of last season’s title win, became a recurring weakness during a damaging run of results in the autumn.
Liverpool’s early-season promise quickly faded after five straight league wins, with six defeats from the next seven matches between late September and November effectively ending their title challenge. The slide exposed structural issues at the back, despite summer additions and a squad many believed would be harder to break down.
Defensive stability had defined Liverpool’s championship campaign, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate dominant centrally and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson providing balance from full-back. Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid changed that dynamic, even though Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez arrived to refresh the flanks and teenager Giovanni Leoni was added for depth.
The problems have been most glaring at set-pieces. Liverpool have conceded 12 league goals from dead-ball situations this season, a record that led to the dismissal of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs earlier this week. Van Dijk has publicly acknowledged the issue, pointing to poor second-phase defending rather than initial contact as the recurring fault.
Against that backdrop, Liverpool have moved decisively in the transfer market. According to reports, an initial £35 million fee has been agreed with Club Brugge for Ordonez, with add-ons potentially taking the deal to £43 million. Chelsea are understood to have withdrawn from the race, clearing Liverpool’s path.
The pursuit follows frustration late in the summer window when a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi collapsed, leaving Liverpool short of an experienced centre-back despite heavy spending elsewhere on Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Ordonez, 21, has built a strong reputation in Belgium since joining Club Brugge from Independiente del Valle in 2022. He has made over 100 appearances, winning a league title and two domestic cups, and is viewed as a defender comfortable in possession with the physical profile to adapt to the Premier League.
Liverpool’s recent form suggests gradual recovery rather than resolution. An eight-game unbeaten run has lifted them to fourth, six points behind Aston Villa, but performances remain uneven. A goalless draw with Leeds United on Thursday summed up the lingering frustration, with chances limited and momentum stalling.
Sunday’s trip to Fulham offers a chance to rebuild confidence before a daunting visit to leaders Arsenal. With Ordonez edging closer to Anfield, Liverpool are betting that fresh defensive authority can turn renewed stability into a meaningful push during the second half of the season.