Journalist Rules Out Liverpool Move for £35m Defender
Liverpool’s defensive recruitment is under the microscope again, with the club sitting 4th in the Premier League and form dipping after Arne Slot’s title winning debut season. Any rumour about a new centre-back gathers pace, especially when the fee sits around £35m and the player is already known to the scouting department.
Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index, journalist David Lynch offered a clear steer on Liverpool’s reported interest in Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, and it reads like a reality check.
Ordonez interest and why the temperature dropped
Lynch’s key point was that internal conversations have not matched the external noise. As he put it: “I had a conversation at Anfield yesterday which really poured cold water on this one.”
That does not mean Liverpool have ignored Ordonez. The distinction is important: “They like Ordonez and have watched him a lot in the past but they’re not looking for someone else of that profile.” Liverpool can admire a player without moving immediately, particularly when the wider squad plan points elsewhere.
Leoni factor shaping Liverpool’s centre-back shortlist
Liverpool’s current planning sounds geared towards balance, not simply adding another promising body. Lynch underlined an existing investment: “He’s a young centre-back and Liverpool already have one in Giovanni Leoni, even though he’s injured at the moment.”
If Leoni is viewed internally as a developmental option, signing another 21-year-old in the same bracket risks duplication and adds pressure for instant impact. For a club trying to steady performances, that is a risky way to spend big money.
Experienced defender priority and Marc Guehi link
The strongest signal in Lynch’s comments is the type of profile Liverpool want, and the timing. He expects a centre-back signing and places it firmly in the summer window: “I think that when they do sign a centre-back, which will absolutely happen in the summer, I think it’ll be more of an experienced player like Marc Guehi.”
That preference feels logical given this season’s pattern. Liverpool have not looked broken, but they have looked fragile in moments, and the margin between a comfortable win and dropped points has felt slim. In that context, recruiting someone who already understands the Premier League’s weekly demands is attractive.
Risk management from Belgium to Premier League
Lynch’s caution is less about Ordonez’s ability and more about expectation. He warned: “I don’t think bringing in a 21-year-old from the Belgian league and expecting him to fix things, would help anyone.”
He expanded the logic with availability and reliability: “They can’t afford to have two young centre-backs, with neither ready to play 40 games in a season. That wouldn’t be a smart decision.” And on the adaptation curve: “It’s a big leap to come from Belgium to the Premier League at 21. He might go on to become a brilliant centre-back, but I don’t think you can take that risk.”
For Liverpool, that reads like a sensible recruitment guardrail. Ordonez may remain on the long list, but the immediate need appears to be a defender closer to ready made, one who can help Slot’s side turn 4th into a stronger finish.
