£40m centre-back will be Andoni Iraola's welcome gift

Liverpool have been tipped to further shake up their centre-back options this summer.

Ibrahima Konate is a headline departure - leaving the club on a free transfer for a highly lucrative contract at Real Madrid.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are out of contract in 2027 meanwhile - and it would be a surprise if either of them remained at Anfield beyond that time.

Richard Hughes has begun the process of freshening up the defensive line through signings over the course of the last year or so.

Giovanni Leoni, Jeremy Jacquet and Mor Talla Ndiaye are expected to form the core of the central defensive options over the coming seasons.

But there remains a sense that the outgoing Premier League champions will still be lacking in a bit of experience. That’s why links with established centre-backs make sense.

And according to a report in TEAMtalk Liverpool are ready to hand Andoni Iraola a £40m welcome gift at centre-back following his appointment as head coach.

£40m Joel Ordonez deal on the table

Liverpool came within a whisker of signing Club Brugge star Joel Ordonez in January. No deal was ultimately done for the Ecuadorian stopper - who is set to play a big part for his country at the FIFA World Cup.

And now club recruiters are back in for the strapping right-footer - with the belief growing inside Anfield that Ordonez has got what it takes to meet the demands of Premier League football.

“Club Brugge star Joel Ordonez is firmly back on the club’s radar,” the report reads.

“Liverpool’s recruitment team have been carrying out extensive work on a number of defensive targets and Ordonez is among the names receiving serious consideration.

“Brugge would be willing to sanction a sale for a fee approaching £40million.

“Liverpool’s scouting department have followed Ordonez closely,” the report continues.

“There is a strong belief internally that he possesses the attributes required to thrive at Anfield.”

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 regular starter and Ecuador international.

Right‑sided by trade but capable at right‑back, he has logged 40+ games across all competitions this season, including Champions League minutes, forming the core of Brugge’s defence.

On the pitch, Ordóñez profiles as a modern, front‑foot defender: aggressive stepping out, but generally measured, strong in duels and comfortable operating in space.

He combines recovery pace and anticipation with tidy short passing – reflected in Champions League passing accuracy close to 93% – and is seen as a powerful physical presence rather than a pure finesse defender.

Contractually, he has committed long‑term to Club Brugge, with reports suggesting a deal running to 2029, putting the Belgians in a strong negotiating position.

Interest is significant: Inter Milan, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been credited with varying degrees of admiration, with guidance that it would take roughly €35–40m (around £30–34m) to tempt Brugge into a sale.

In terms of potential next step, a move to a Champions League‑level club in one of Europe’s top five leagues feels like the natural progression, with his age, profile and European experience making him an especially logical fit for Premier League sides seeking a right‑sided, athletic centre‑back.

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