Aston Villa are ramping up negotiations to secure 22-year-old central defender Hoel Ordonez from Brugge. According to esteemed journalist Sami Mokbel, the Birmingham club has turned its focus to the South American following the collapse of a deal with Southampton for Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Previously, the Villans sold key defender Ezri Konsa to Arsenal, leaving a significant void in their backline. Villa attempted to sign Harwood-Bellis, but their initial offer of £18 million was firmly rejected by the Saints due to a massive disparity in valuation. While a return to negotiations for the 24-year-old Englishman isn't entirely off the table, the club is currently exploring alternative options.
The Brugge hierarchy rates Ordonez, who has made 124 appearances since joining the Belgian side from Independiente del Valle in 2022 and played for Ecuador at the summer World Cup, at a minimum of £40 million.
After a heavy 0-4 defeat to Brighton in their Premier League opener, Unai Emery's coaching staff is urgently seeking to bolster the squad ahead of the September 1 deadline. The Birmingham side is undergoing a significant overhaul following the departures of key players like Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Ezri Konsa, while the future of forward Ollie Watkins remains in question amid strong interest from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal.
