Michael Edwards appointed to finalise first Liverpool signing of January with personal terms already agreed – report…

Michael Edwards has been tasked with finalizing Liverpool’s first signing of January, with personal terms already settled – according to reports.

Liverpool’s transfer news indicates they are reportedly nearing a deal to acquire centre-back Joel Ordonez.

It has been reported that Liverpool is on the verge of completing a signing during the January transfer window.

Sources from South America indicate that the Reds are progressing towards a deal for Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge. As per Expreso, a prominent newspaper in Ecuador, Liverpool is ‘one signature away’ from finalizing the acquisition of the centre-back.

Ordonez has spent the last two-and-a-half seasons at Club Brugge, contributing to their Belgian title victory in 2024 and helping them reach the Champions League last 16 last season. The defender has made 105 appearances, netting four goals. He has also earned 14 caps for Ecuador and is set to represent his nation at the World Cup later this year.

Ordonez has attracted interest from various clubs, including Chelsea and Inter Milan. However, reports from his home country suggest that Liverpool’s sporting project has ‘tipped the scales’ in their favor, with the Reds believing that the 21-year-old aligns well with their vision.

Expreso also reports that Michael Edwards, the CEO of football for Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group, is working on the final details of the agreement. It is said that the main terms have already been established, although no price has been disclosed.

In the meantime, Ecuadorian outlet Tera Deportes claims that Liverpool has ‘already agreed’ on terms with the defender and is currently in negotiations with Brugge.

Liverpool is in urgent need of reinforcement in central defense due to a shortage of options. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the only fit, senior players available, while Joe Gomez has been sidelined for the past three weeks due to a muscle injury and has faced fitness issues in recent years.

Additionally, Giovanni Leoni, who was signed from Parma for £26 million last summer, suffered an ACL injury during his debut and will not return to play this season.

Furthermore, Konate’s contract is set to end in June, and he has yet to make a commitment regarding his future at Anfield, even though negotiations have taken place.

The Reds attempted to acquire Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace during the last transfer window. A fee of £35 million was agreed upon, and Guehi completed a medical examination before Palace decided to withdraw at the last moment.

Although Guehi’s contract at Selhurst Park expires this summer, he is anticipated to remain in South London for the rest of the season. Notable clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City have shown interest in signing Guehi on a free transfer once his contract with Palace ends.