Liverpool may have competition from Chelsea for Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez, according to reports in Ecuador.

The Reds have been maintaining a watching brief on the 21-year-old for several months as they weigh up whether to sign the player.

However, Bola VIP now claim that Arne Slot’s side are just one of two Premier League teams keeping tabs on Ordonez, with Chelsea very much in the race to buy the centre-half.

At the moment, it is not clear whether either team will firm up their interest with a formal bid but they already know how much he will cost.

Ordonez’s asking price

It is believed that Club Brugge want at least €40m (£35m) for the Ecuadorian international, who is regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in Europe.

There is a feeling that Ordonez’s valuation could increase if he has a good World Cup, so that may spur either Liverpool or Chelsea into action earlier to secure his signature in the New Year.

Liverpool are on the hunt for a new centre-half

With David Ornstein having confirmed that the Reds are no longer front-runners to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, it seems that the Merseysiders have started to cast their net wider for potential reinforcements at the back.

Ordonez has been linked on and off with a move to Anfield over the last 12 months or so. The player himself actually spoke about his interest in moving to the Premier League last December.

It means that getting the approval of the player will not be difficult, but agreeing a fee with Club Brugge may be more of a challenge, especially if they maintain their current valuation. It is a transfer story to keep a close eye on.

Read more about the Liverpool First Team Squad for 2025/26 here