'Heard his name': Liverpool firmly in race to sign £25m defender who is 'one for the future' - journalist

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Liverpool look likely to be in need of a new defensive signing in 2025.

The Reds have not bolstered their centre-back options with a signing from outside the club since Ibrahima Konate joined from RB Leipzig in 2021.

In the near four years since, Jarell Quansah has been promoted from the Liverpool academy, but the Reds have also seen Joel Matip permanently leave the club.

With doubt now surrounding what will happen with Virgil van Dijk and as Joe Gomez weighs up his Liverpool future, it’s clear that something fresh is needed.

As Van Dijk and Konate have proven this season, Arne Slot can rely on his first-choice partnership to keep the door closed for Liverpool more often than not.

Consequently, as long as Van Dijk stays, what the Reds are likely to need is a ‘project’ centre-back who can come in and learn from the more senior players before one day taking over. And a player who could be the ideal fit for that scenario is now emerging on their radar.

Liverpool tracking Joel Ordonez progress

To be fair to Liverpool, they did take a look at sorting out the future of their defence in 2024.

Liverpool pushed to sign Leny Yoro but with the then 18-year-old keen to play first-team football immediately, they had to cede to Manchester United.

But Yoro is far from the only talented young defender on their radar. As per Caught Offside, the Reds have been watching £25m-rated centre-back Joel Ordonez.

And according to journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool could be one to watch in a crowded race for the 20-year-old.

READ MORE: Liverpool interested in the ‘next Martin Zubimendi’ coming out of La Liga

“He’s a player who they know, they’ve known him since before he moved to Belgium,” Bailey exclusively tells Rousing The Kop.

“He’s progressed really well and he’s certainly someone Liverpool are aware of and have done work on. But I’ve heard his name a lot, a lot of Premier League clubs are looking at him. Plenty looked at him before he went to Belgium and he’s come in and done well and they like him.

“I think he’s more of a project, one for the future,” adds the reporter. “But the way Liverpool work, you wouldn’t rule out that sort of deal.”

Who is Joel Ordonez?

For some Liverpool supporters, this will be their first time hearing of Ordonez at all.

However, the 20-year-old has been quietly impressing for Brugge since arriving from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in 2022.

Independiente are of course the same club who forged the talents of Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho and many more.

In Hincapie, Pacho and now Ordonez, the Ecuador national team truly have three potentially outstanding young centre-backs.

But even amongst that talent, Ordonez is managing to standout. After making his senior international debut in March 2023, he has gone on to win four caps for Ecuador.

He may not be a signing for the here and now, but Ordonez is certainly one to keep an eye on.