Tottenham lead Liverpool in race for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez.
Tottenham Hotspur are currently leading the race to sign Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez, according to Caught Offside, with the €45 million-rated Ecuador international emerging as a genuine alternative defensive target as Brighton’s hardball stance over Jan Paul van Hecke’s fee prompts Spurs to explore other options simultaneously.
The report adds significant depth to what had previously been described as a rumour at the early stages. Multiple Premier League clubs have scouted Ordonez on more than one occasion over the past year, but it is now Tottenham and Liverpool who have emerged as the primary contenders for his signature, with Chelsea, Newcastle, and Juventus also placed on alert by his availability.
Liverpool’s interest has been reignited by the departure of Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer, leaving them with an urgent need for defensive reinforcement. The suggestion that Ordonez could also eventually serve as a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk adds further logic to their pursuit. However, the same sources indicate Tottenham are currently ahead in the race, with their more urgent and organised approach to defensive recruitment giving them an early advantage.
The Van Hecke context is crucial to understanding Tottenham’s position. Brighton’s asking price for the Dutch defender has created a significant obstacle, and while Spurs remain committed to that pursuit with personal terms already agreed, exploring Ordonez as an alternative demonstrates sensible contingency planning. At €45 million, Ordonez would represent considerably better value than Brighton’s reported demands for Van Hecke, and Club Brugge’s willingness to sell at that figure makes the deal considerably more financially straightforward.
Vuskovic’s potential sale could fund Joel Ordonez move
There is also an intriguing circular element to the story. Brighton have made a £30 million offer for Luka Vuskovic, which Tottenham have already rejected. But should a Vuskovic sale eventually be sanctioned at a higher fee, the funds generated could directly finance a move for Ordonez, creating a defensive rebuilding strategy that manages both exits and entrances efficiently.
At 22, Ordonez fits the age profile De Zerbi and the Lewis family have identified as central to their recruitment philosophy this summer.