Chelsea have stepped up efforts to signal extremely rated Colombian centre-back Joel Ordonez from Membership Brugge subsequent summer season, in response to TEAMtalk.
After a chaotic season that features two managerial switches, a significant squad overhaul is anticipated on the finish of the present marketing campaign, significantly in defence, with Brugge’s Ordonez now being eyed.
Since becoming a member of the Blauw-Zwart in 2022, the centre-back has grown into a vital determine, racking up 115 appearances and scoring six objectives throughout all competitions.
Having already surpassed 100 video games for Brugge, the 22-year-old has underlined his means at each membership and worldwide degree, combining defensive reliability within the Belgian Professional League with the composure anticipated of one in every of Europe’s most promising younger defenders.
Within the present marketing campaign, he has performed 23 of 36 league matches for Evan Lecko’s Jupiler Professional League table-topping facet whereas additionally that includes in all 10 of the membership’s UEFA Champions League fixtures earlier than their round-of-16 exit to Atlético Madrid.
It seems his performances haven’t gone unnoticed, as TEAMtalk experiences that Chelsea have stepped up their curiosity in Ordonez this week after conserving shut tabs on him in recent times.
The report provides that the Blues’ scouts have lately been in Belgium to observe the 6ft 2in centre-back and have been impressed by his progress and improvement into one of many Jupiler Professional League’s finest defenders.
Fierce battle
Nevertheless, Chelsea face stern competitors for Ordonez’s signature, as Premier League rivals Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa are additionally carefully monitoring the Ecuadorian worldwide, with Brugge anticipated to demand a £35m payment to sanction his departure.
Chelsea’s defensive frailties have been as soon as once more laid naked in Monday afternoon’s Premier League recreation, as Nottingham Forest surged right into a two-goal lead inside quarter-hour from Taiwo Awoniyi and a penalty transformed by Igor Jesus.
What was already their poorest league sequence since 1912 took one other flip for the more serious, as a rotated Forest facet arrived in west London and overwhelmed the Blues, with Vítor Pereira’s workforce transferring six factors away from the relegation zone.
The efficiency highlighted a transparent absence of management on the again, with gamers comparable to Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, and Mamadou Sarr all missing an skilled organiser.
Regardless of being simply 22, Ordonez has confirmed his defensive qualities and management expertise at each membership and nation degree, making him a superb match for Chelsea as they appear to revamp their backline in the summertime.
