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Why Joel Ordóñez Fits the Immediate Need

There’s a growing sense that January will be less about indulgence and more about insurance at Anfield, and Joel Ordóñez feels like the kind of signing that fits that brief perfectly. Not glamorous. Not headline-grabbing. But absolutely necessary. Marc Guehi may be grabbing headlines, however, this young prodigy may well take the red shirt.

At around £35m, Ordóñez represents elite-level value for a defender who can operate both as a centre-back and at right-back, something Liverpool’s current squad does not have enough of. His explosiveness across the ground, recovery pace, and aggression in duels would immediately add depth to a defensive unit that has been stretched thin all season. With Ibrahima Konaté still unsigned and his long-term future unresolved, and Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the season, Liverpool cannot afford to drift into February hoping bodies hold together.

Ordóñez isn’t being targeted as a saviour or even as a player to displace anyone immediately. He’s being targeted as protection and for the future. Someone who can rotate, cover injuries, and crucially allow Liverpool to stop forcing players into roles they are only half-suited to. We’ve already seen how much more stable the side looks when square pegs aren’t being hammered into round holes. This signing would be about safeguarding standards.

There’s also a tactical angle. Whether it’s a back four or a hybrid system drifting toward a back three, Ordóñez gives Liverpool optionality. He can defend wide spaces, he can step into midfield zones, and he doesn’t panic when pressed. Those qualities matter far more than reputation right now.

Planning Beyond Slot and Toward the Summer

What makes this move feel especially sensible is that it doesn’t tie Liverpool’s hands beyond this season. If, as many suspect, Arne Slot is replaced in the summer, Ordóñez still fits almost any defensive structure a new manager might want to implement. This is not a “Slot player”. This is a Liverpool squad player in the truest sense.

It also opens the door for smarter business later. A January move for Ordóñez would allow Liverpool to defer a major centre-back investment until the summer, where someone like Marc Guéhi could be approached on a free transfer. No fee, just a heavy signing-on bonus and wages—exactly the kind of opportunistic deal Michael Edwards has built his reputation on.

That sequencing matters. Liverpool doesn’t need to panic-buy a marquee defender now. They need to stabilise the squad, protect themselves against uncertainty, and keep their powder dry for a more decisive summer rebuild. Ordóñez does that.

There’s also a wider philosophical point here. January should not be about fixing everything. It should be about preventing things from getting worse. Ordóñez, as a young South American defender with athleticism, versatility, and resale value, ticks every box Liverpool usually care about when they’re thinking clearly.

Resolve Konaté’s contract or replace him later. Wait for Guéhi in the summer. But right now, bring in a defender who can play, compete, and cover. Joel Ordóñez feels like exactly that kind of move—quiet, sensible, and necessary.

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