United battling PL rivals for powerful South American defender available for £35m – report

Manchester United may have tied Harry Maguire down to a new deal, but that has not stopped them from considering succession plans for the backline. The English defender’s previous contract was due to expire at the end of this season, but he has signed a new one-year extension, with the option of an additional 12 months. Maguire has been in superb form of late and has been one of the key players under caretaker manager Michael Carrick. However, the veteran defender is already in the twilight of his career, so the Red Devils are looking for a long-term replacement. The English giants have broadened their scouting network in recent times and are regularly monitoring talents from across the world. Their target is to identify and sign the next promising footballer before he has reached his peak and mould him into a world-beater. That strategy has seen them secure the services of some very impressive talents from across the world. It now appears that they have unearthed the next gem from South America. United monitoring Joel Ordonez According to TEAMtalk, United are among the clubs keeping a close eye on Joel Ordonez, although Chelsea are showing the most interest in the defender. The report states: “Chelsea stepped up their long-term interest in Joel Ordonez over the weekend, with TEAMtalk able to reveal club scouts were in attendance in Brussels to watch him in action.” “Our sources indicate that Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa have all been closely monitoring Ordonez in recent months as they assess defensive targets ahead of the summer window.” “In terms of his playing style, Ordonez is described as a powerful presence, whose outstanding pace and reading of the game makes him an attractive proposition for suitors.” The report goes on to state that a deal is likely to cost £35 million, adding: “The defender, who will reportedly cost €40m (£35m, $47m), has played 42 times in all competitions this season, scoring four goals.” Who is Joel Ordonez? Ordonez spent his formative years at Independiente del Valle before joining Club Brugge in 2022. The Ecuadorian defender was initially assigned to the reserves before breaking into the senior side the following year and has since cemented his place in the starting XI. Of his 42 appearances for the Belgian club this season, all but three have been starts, signifying Ordonez’s importance to the team. He is under contract until 2029 but could end his stay in the Jupiler Pro League this year. Joel Ordonez Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Jupiler Pro League23203-321,822′ UEFA Champions League10101-1-871′ Jupiler Pro League Champions’ Play-Offs66–1-540′ Croky Cup22—-180′ Volkswagen Supercup11–1-90′ Total42394-623,503′ Source: Transfermarkt. The 22 year old’s attributes make him a fine addition to United’s defensive department, but INEOS will have to step up their efforts if they wish to beat Chelsea in this race. Final Thoughts The Red Devils already have Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in their squad, but the recent injury troubles of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt justify a move for Ordonez. United have conceded 48 goals in 35 Premier League games this season, with only Bournemouth letting in more among the top-ten teams of the league table. The backline needs reinforcements this summer and securing the Ecuadorian could prove to be a smart bit of business in the long run. Ayden Heaven (19) vs Liverpool: ✈️ 100% aerial duels won (1/1)⚔️ 100% ground duels won (5/5)🧱 6 defensive contributions🎯 34/38 passing 1 million Great British Pounds 🤣💷 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/1ssQciS6KB — Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) May 4, 2026 Featured image Dean Mouhtaropoulos via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.