Report: Liverpool closing in on deal to sign £43m star in January | OneFootball

Liverpool transfer news: Joel Ordonez deal could be completed soon

The Mirror have reported that Liverpool are closing in on Club Brugge centre half Joel Ordonez, with the move described as landing ‘in just days’ and with Chelsea having pulled out. If the figures stack up, it is an early sign of Liverpool’s January transfer window priorities, and a response to a defence that has rarely had the same shape for long enough to settle under Arne Slot.

The suggestion that the deal is coming ‘in days’ hints at advanced talks. That usually means the broad framework is agreed, leaving timings and final details.

Deal details and timing

The Mirror say the initial fee should be around £35million, with add ons that could take the total to £43million. That kind of structure fits Liverpool’s preference for paying more when performance lands.

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Ordonez, still only 21, has already built a serious body of work. The Mirror note he has racked up 105 appearances for Club Brugge, including 15 league games this season. For Liverpool, that experience matters because it suggests a player trusted to start, week after week, in a team expected to win.

Defensive needs under Arne Slot

Liverpool’s league context gives this rumour weight. As The Mirror write, “At the time of writing, the Reds sit fourth in the Premier League standings, 13 points shy of current leaders, Arsenal.” They also state, “Problems at the back are evident, considering the 26 goals that the defending champions have shipped this season thus far, with a pairing of Konate and Virgil van Dijk not working for one reason or another.”

Beyond form, there is planning. Konate can speak to overseas clubs from New Year’s Day because his contract expires at season’s end, and Liverpool will want clarity well before May. Another centre half now offers insurance and competition, and it gives Slot more control over minutes.

Squad knock on effects across the back line

The Mirror’s wider notes underline why Liverpool may move quickly. There have been injuries, role changes, and spells with makeshift full backs, plus Alisson’s hamstring absence earlier in the season. Disruption at the back tends to spread into midfield spacing and pressing timings, and that is where small errors become expensive.

“Solve the spine, settle the team” feels like the guiding idea, and Ordonez fits that brief.

January window watch: Guehi and Adeyemi mentions

The Mirror also flag two secondary strands. One is a renewed look at Marc Guehi, framed as ‘one last bite of the cherry’ with Crystal Palace facing a contract countdown. The other is Karim Adeyemi, described as “seemingly unsettled”, with pace and versatility that would add another option in the forward line.

For now, Ordonez is the name to watch. If Liverpool do wrap this up quickly, it would be tidy early January business, and the kind of move that can stabilise the season’s foundations.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan perspective, this report reads like common sense meeting opportunity. Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his debut season, and that achievement raised expectations for how quickly problems get fixed. Liverpool are fourth this year, and the gap has grown, so January recruitment feels like a lever the club can still pull.

Ordonez looks like the right profile for Liverpool, young, durable, and already trusted in a demanding environment. The mention of 105 appearances stands out, because it hints at consistency, and Liverpool have missed that at the back. If the package truly reaches £43million only through add ons, it sounds like a deal designed to reward success, rather than gamble everything up front.

Konate’s contract angle also makes this feel timely. Even if he stays, having another centre half ready to rotate can protect van Dijk, cut down on emergency full back moves, and steady those moments where games swing on one loose transition.

And if there is room for a forward move like Karim Adeyemi, it would feel like a statement. With Slot still building his second season squad, smart additions now could keep the title chase alive and set up a strong finish.