Liverpool are close to making their first signing of the winter transfer window.
According to The Sun, the Reds are set to sign Ecuadorian centre-back Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge in a £43m deal “in the coming days”.
The initial cost is said to be close to £35 million, but add-ons will increase the value of the overall fee.
At just 21 years old, Ordonez is seen internally as a long-term defensive solution and his arrival would be an important early statement for Liverpool.
Chelsea were also eyeing a move for the Ecuadorian international, but reports suggest the Blues have pulled out of the race, leaving Liverpool firmly in the running for the player.
Marc Gehi maintains links with Liverpool
Marc Gehi is close to joining Liverpool in the summer, with a contract agreed between the club and the player and a medical.
However, Crystal Palace made a U-turn at the last minute and the deal fell through.
Guehi remains a target for the Reds, but increasing competition has made signing him even more complicated.
Real Madrid are in the race to sign Guehi, with Bayern Munich also monitoring the player.
Guehi’s contract expires at the end of the season, so he will be free to sign a pre-contract with a European club in January. Other Premier League clubs have also expressed interest in signing Guehi.
It remains possible that the Reds wait until the summer and try to sign him on a free transfer.
Ibrahima Konate has yet to sign a new contract with Liverpool
Liverpool also face an increasingly delicate situation with Ibrahima Konate, who has yet to agree terms on a new contract at Anfield.
The French defender is reportedly seeking improved terms, but with no agreement in place, he will also be eligible to sign a pre-contract with a European club.
If no deal is reached, Konate would be set to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, a scenario Liverpool are keen to avoid.
There is a growing sense that the potential signing of Ordonez is seen as immediate cover as Liverpool look to secure their long-term defensive future, but Gehi could remain a key target this summer.
