Liverpool AGREE deal for £57k per week South American jewel

Liverpool’s troubles at centre-back this season have been well-documented.

The club’s failure to land Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day has had a big impact - with Liverpool losing out on a potential world-class addition to the squad.

Combined with the long-term injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni it has all served to leave Arne Slot woefully ill-equipped at the centre of defence.

Joe Gomez has also been in and out of the side due to injury with the England man required to cover for Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong at right-back too.

Liverpool move for £57k per week Joel Ordonez

The Premier League champions have been depending on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to stay fit and out of suspension trouble.

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But there have also been question marks against Konate’s form - with the 26-year-old Frenchman only recently returning to something like his best following an indifferent spell.

There is contract uncertainty over the 26-year-old too - with Konate now entitled to speak to overseas clubs about a free transfer next summer.

But according to one source sporting director Richard Hughes has now acted decisively to replace the France international as well as add to Liverpool’s options for the rest of the season.

Reds clinch Joel Ordonez signing

That’s because Bolavip in Ecuador says a deal between Liverpool and Joel Ordonez has been finalised. Ecuador international Ordonez, 23, currently plays for Club Brugge in the Belgian top flight but has agreed to join the Reds this January.

The fee will be around £35m - and Ordonez is set to treble his Brugge salary and make around £57k per week at Anfield.

"Negotiations have intensified, and Joel Ordóñez is close to becoming a Liverpool player in the next European transfer window," the report reads.

"Joel Ordóñez would earn close to $4 million a year, almost triple his current salary at Club Brugge."

Ordonez has been a mainstay of Brugge’s defence in the Belgian league as well as the Champions League over the last couple of seasons.

He has established himself as one of the best up-and-coming stoppers in South America in that time and moves to Merseyside with a burgeoning reputation.

This could well end up proving to be an inspired bit of business from Hughes with the Reds having held off interest from Chelsea and Inter Milan in the young Ecuadorian.