Aston Villa inquire about the speed of defender Joel Ordonez

Press reports confirm Aston Villa's interest in Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordonez, who currently plays for Club Brugge.

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Club Brugge intends to sell the player for no less than £40m, which is the price set by the Belgian side to let the player go. At just 22 years old, the center-back already carries the weight of international experience, having represented his nation on the grand stage of this summer's World Cup. Since arriving at Club Brugge in 2022 from Independiente del Valle, he has steadily grown into a mainstay, racking up 124 appearances in Belgian colors.

Across the channel, Aston Villa had set their sights on Taylor Harwood-Bellis as an alternative, but those hopes appear to have hit a wall. A formal bid in the region of £18 million was turned down by Southampton, and sources suggest the two clubs remain miles apart in their valuations—leaving Villa with little room to maneuver, at least for now.

Aston Villa wants to move for more than one goal

Whether the door remains open for the 24-year-old is still anyone's guess, but for now, Unai Emery's squad have already turned their attention elsewhere. The clock is ticking, and with the September 1 deadline fast approaching, there's little time to dwell on what might have been.

The need for reinforcements was laid bare over the weekend, when Villa stumbled out of the gates with a humbling 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton. That result has only sharpened the urgency behind the scenes as the recruitment team scrambles to plug the gaps before the window slams shut.

It's been a summer of significant turnover at Villa Park. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Konsa have all moved on, leaving noticeable voids in the spine of the squad. And as if that weren't enough, Ollie Watkins' future is now hanging in the balance—the striker has emerged as a prime target for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal, casting further uncertainty over an already turbulent period for the club.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

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