TBR Football understands that Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Aston Villa are being kept informed about defensive target Joel Ordonez as Marseille look to seal a move for the Club Brugge star.
Ordonez, 21, is considered one of the best young defensive prospects in Europe, having established himself as a first-team regular in the Belgian Pro League.
TBR Football exclusively revealed last season that Ordonez was on the radar at a host of Premier League clubs ahead of a potential move this summer.
There has been regular contact over the past 12 months from the Premier League, including clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Aston Villa, regarding the Ecuadorian international.
Newcastle United were also keen on the defender, but, as revealed this week, Eddie Howe has opted to sign Malick Thiaw.
We understand that intermediaries have made contact with Ordonez’s suitors to inform them that, as it stands, Marseille are closing on a deal and he is keen to make the move – so if anyone has hopes of landing him – they would need to make a big move, and very soon.
Exclusive: Premier League clubs made aware of Joel Ordonez transfer
Liverpool are light in the centre-back department. Slot could only name one on the bench for the Community Shield on Sunday, and have yet to replace Jarell Quansah after sanctioning his move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Jamie Carragher berated the Reds’ defending at Wembley, and although the transfer expenditure nears the £300 million mark at Anfield, the need for further recruits in defence couldn’t be more apparent.
Tottenham, on the other hand, will be eager to avoid a repeat of last season, where they struggled to field a senior centre-back pairing in the Premier League.
As chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively revealed to TBR Football, Thomas Frank requested four signings before agreeing to take the reins in North London, and now he, alongside Slot, is monitoring Ordonez’s developments.
Bailey states: “Ordonez is a huge talent, I am told by numerous Premier League clubs that this boy is held in huge regard – he is one of those players that not just shows up analytically but when you watch him, he really is a standout performer.”
Liverpool will target a new centre-back before the transfer deadline
Although Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven struggled to remain off the sidelines for Tottenham last term, the need for extra defensive recruits is more pressing at Anfield.
With Joe Gomez struggling for fitness ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign, Slot will be relying on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to remain injury-free.
Furthermore, van Dijk was culpable for Crystal Palace’s penalty at Wembley and was also at fault for the second equaliser as the Reds twice threw away a one-goal advantage to lose the Community Shield.
Slot must consider managing the Liverpool captain’s minutes across all competitions – a task which is currently impossible given their lack of rotational options.