Chelsea are likely to be busy in the upcoming summer transfer window. The disappointing season that has unfolded for the club so far certainly points to that. Champions League qualification is out of the question currently, and there is even a possibility of no European football at all for the club.
A new manager is set to be brought in to replace Calum McFarlane, who is in charge for now. But that obviously won’t be enough, and a number of new signings are expected as well to strengthen multiple positions on the pitch.
Defensive struggles throughout this campaign have been a major issue for Chelsea. So it is one of the key areas the Blues will need to address. On that note, it looks like the club have already started that process.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea stepped up their long-term interest in Joel Ordonez over the weekend. Scouts were in attendance to watch him in action in Club Brugge’s win over Anderlecht. It is expected to take around €40 million to sign the Ecuadorian international.
Chelsea send scouts to monitor Joel Ordonez
Chelsea have been linked with Ordonez for quite some time now. They seem to be finally stepping up their efforts to bring the player to Stamford Bridge.
The Ecuadorian centre-back has had a significant presence in Club Brugge’s backline this season. He has appeared in 42 matches in all competitions, including 10 starts in the Champions League.
Ordonez ticks almost all the boxes Chelsea might be looking for. Additionally, the player is still just 22 years of age and could develop into one of the best in his position if he continues on the right path.
Unsurprisingly, Chelsea aren’t the only club monitoring the player. Others like Liverpool, Juventus, Aston Villa, and Manchester United are also in the race to secure his signature.
Could Joel Ordonez be the solution to Chelsea’s defensive woes
Ordonez is undoubtedly a talented youngster with a lot of potential. But the same was true for Jorrel Hato who was brought in last summer. However, fast forward to today, the Dutch defender has only just started showing signs that he is settling in but is not a starter yet.
Moreover, the Premier League is far more competitive than the Jupiler Pro League. So Chelsea will have to be absolutely certain that Ordonez can make that transition and perform at the same level. Failure to do so could mean another poor investment from the club. And as things stand, there is very little room for error in that department.
Notably, there are some other centre-backs linked with Chelsea as well, such as Jan Paul van Hecke and Murillo, both of whom have proven their mettle in the Premier League and could possibly be better options for the Blues at this moment. That said, it is ultimately Chelsea’s decision who they want as their new centre-back. So it remains to be seen who they end up making a move for in the upcoming summer transfer window.
