£35m defender could join Liverpool over Chelsea

The report adds that Club Brugge's asking price is likely to be around the £35m mark.

Liverpool need adequate defensive cover heading into the new season. New options include Giovanni Leoni when he returns from injury as well as Mor Talla Ndiaye and Jeremy Jacquet.

But the Premier League champions could lose Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer if no new contract is agreed with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez out of contract a year later.

Richard Hughes and Arne Slot therefore will be assessing their options carefully - with Ordonez now back on the radar.

Joel Ordóñez: Situation summary

Joel Ordóñez is a 22‑year‑old Ecuadorian centre‑back, 1.88m tall, who came through Independiente del Valle before joining Club Brugge in 2022 and establishing himself as a starter in the Jupiler Pro League and Europe.

A right‑footed defender who can also fill in at right‑back, he is under contract with Brugge until 2028 after an improved extension following earlier unrest over a possible move to Marseille.

On the pitch, Ordóñez profiles as an aggressive, front‑foot centre‑back: dominant in duels, proactive in stepping into passing lanes and comfortable defending big spaces, though he can still be a touch rash when jumping out of the line.

In possession he plays with conviction, punching vertical passes, hitting accurate diagonals and occasionally carrying the ball through the first line, but he is more functional than flamboyant.

Brugge have already rebuffed offers in the €30–40m bracket and value him closer to €40–50m, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Marseille, Roma and Inter all linked; a move to a Champions League‑level club in a top five league feels like the logical next step once someone meets Brugge’s asking price.