Liverpool Close In On £43m Ordonez Deal As Chelsea Step Aside

Liverpool are poised to wrap up their first major signing of 2026 within days, with Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez set to arrive at Anfield after Chelsea abandoned their pursuit of the Ecuador international.

The 21-year-old defender will join the Reds in a deal valued at approximately £43m, with an initial outlay of around £35m supplemented by additional performance-based clauses that could push the final fee considerably higher.

The move represents a significant statement of intent from Slot's side, who find themselves in need of reinforcement at the back following a tumultuous campaign. Having invested over £400m during last summer's ambitious overhaul—which saw the arrivals of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike—Liverpool's title credentials have crumbled spectacularly, with the Reds having already surrendered hopes of retaining their 20th Premier League crown before the calendar even turned.

The scale of last summer's rebuild now appears excessive, with performances deteriorating markedly as Slot attempted to reshape the squad inherited from Jurgen Klopp. Recent weeks have brought modest improvement following tactical adjustments designed to provide greater defensive solidity, yet it remains abundantly clear that the centre-back position demands urgent attention.

Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi during the summer window proved fruitless, and whilst the Palace defender remains on their radar for potential future moves, Ordonez represents an opportunity to address the defensive fragility that has plagued them throughout the campaign.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer has suggested the club erred in their summer priorities, arguing that defensive reinforcement should have taken precedence. Speaking to AceOdds, McAteer outlined his reasoning: "Marc Guehi is absolutely someone I would have brought in before Isak. Once Ekitike was secured, strengthening elsewhere became essential."

He elaborated on the striker investment: "I don't believe the forward department warranted a £120 million outlay. While opportunities with elite talents don't come around frequently—and other clubs would certainly have considered Isak as a potential January reinforcement—Liverpool already possessed adequate attacking options with Ekitike, Chiesa, and several others."

McAteer pointed to defensive vulnerabilities as the critical issue: "The backline needed urgent attention, particularly given Joe Gomez's well-documented injury concerns. Guehi was attainable and would have been available at the right price, especially with his contract situation heading toward expiration."