{"id":36056,"date":"2025-12-30T23:09:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:09:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/30\/liverpool-lead-in-34m-talent-race\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T23:09:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:09:51","slug":"liverpool-lead-in-34m-talent-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/30\/liverpool-lead-in-34m-talent-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool lead in \u00a334m talent race"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/30\/liverpool-lead-in-34m-talent-race\/#Liverpool_preparing_alternative_plans_for_winter_game\" >Liverpool preparing alternative plans for winter game<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/30\/liverpool-lead-in-34m-talent-race\/#Why_Liverpool_need_to_sign_Ordonez\" >Why Liverpool need to sign Ordonez<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/30\/liverpool-lead-in-34m-talent-race\/#Mac_Allister_upgrade_Liverpool_could_sign_%E2%80%98worlds_best_commercial_candidate\" >Mac Allister upgrade: Liverpool could sign &#8216;world&#8217;s best commercial candidate&#8217;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Liverpool are allergic to signing centre-backs.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>This is of course not true, but this summer the Reds signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a fee of \u00a327 million, making the 18-year-old the club&#8217;s second fully senior signing since Virgil van Dijk&#8217;s record-breaking move in January 2018, and the first being Ibrahima Konate, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Arne Slott&#8217;s side are frustrated after Leoni ruptured his ACL on his Reds debut and was out for the season, with defensive issues at the heart of Liverpool&#8217;s struggles this season.<\/p>\n<p>    Despite intense speculation over the future of Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, with Liverpool also considered and Manchester City also said to be interested in signing him, the need for a new centre-half remains great.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"liverpool-lining-up-winter-guehi-alternative\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Liverpool_preparing_alternative_plans_for_winter_game\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Liverpool preparing alternative plans for winter game<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Guehi, 25, is one of the best defenders in the Premier League. One of the best players. Van Dijk turns 35 next summer and with Konate&#8217;s error-riddled contract coming to an end soon, FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes are sure to compete for the Crystal Palace captain&#8217;s signature.<\/p>\n<p>However, Liverpool may have to play a waiting game as Guehi himself will become a free agent by the end of this season. Still, the need for a new centre-back is great and if the right opportunity presents itself in the new year, the Merseysiders should jump on it.<\/p>\n<p>Now, as it happens, such a shot has materialized, with Boravip confirming Liverpool&#8217;s interest in Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez ahead of the January window.<\/p>\n<p>With Chelsea out of the race, the Reds are believed to be the front-runners with a clear path to signing his signature, although Serie A side Inter Milan are also on the list.<\/p>\n<p>    Ordonez, 21, is regarded as one of the most talented up-and-coming centre-backs and signing him from Brugge would require a transfer fee of \u20ac40m (approximately \u00a334m), Belgium&#8217;s record fee.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-liverpool-need-to-sign-ordonez\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Liverpool_need_to_sign_Ordonez\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Why Liverpool need to sign Ordonez<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No doubt, adding a forward like Semenyo to the slot squad would improve Liverpool. However, a call to a Ghanaian representative in November revealed that FSG did not choose to match Manchester City&#8217;s intensity.<\/p>\n<p>Why is this? After all, Semenyo is one of the best players in Europe, with nine goals and three assists in 17 Premier League games this season.<\/p>\n<p>Could it be because Liverpool decided to prioritize defenders instead? There is a stronger case for centre-halves, as Liverpool&#8217;s leaky backline has caused so many problems this season, with Konate and Van Dijk showing cracks in their usual shells.<\/p>\n<p>Although Ordonez is young, he has experience in the Champions League and as a top talent in the Belgian top flight, with talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as a &#8220;remarkable player&#8221; with an &#8220;incredibly perfect profile&#8221; for such a young defender.<\/p>\n<p>    Furthermore, according to FBref, the Ecuadorian national team ranks in the top 9% of Belgian Professional League affiliates for pass attempts and completions, in the top 16% for progressive passes, and in the top 2% for carries.<\/p>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-note\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom note\" id=\"custom_block_21\">\n<div class=\"custom_block-content note\">\n<p>A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the completed pass into the opponent&#8217;s goal or into the penalty area.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>This natural ball-playing ability will serve Liverpool well, providing much-needed defensive depth in the slot and making him a more important cog than a more expensive wide forward like Semenyo.<\/p>\n<p>    With Florian Wirtz coming into his own, the team&#8217;s experienced Kodi Gakpo and Rio Ngmoja hailed as one of the most exciting talents in the country, an up-and-coming defender like Ordonez could prove to be just the player the Anfield side need.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"mac-allister-upgrade-liverpool-could-sign-arda-guler-for-sale\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/liverpool-mac-allister.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/liverpool-mac-allister.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_Allister_upgrade_Liverpool_could_sign_%E2%80%98worlds_best_commercial_candidate\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tMac Allister upgrade: Liverpool could sign &#8216;world&#8217;s best commercial candidate&#8217;<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Liverpool are considering a winter move for a new central midfielder. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liverpool are allergic to signing centre-backs. This is of course not true, but this summer the Reds signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a fee of \u00a327 million, making the 18-year-old the club&#8217;s second fully senior signing since Virgil van Dijk&#8217;s record-breaking move in January 2018, and the first being Ibrahima Konate, who joined from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[8098,40,1908,132,180,235],"class_list":["post-36056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-34m","tag-football","tag-lead","tag-liverpool","tag-race","tag-talent"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}