Aston Villa are actively working to sign Club Brugge central defender Joel Ordonez. This move comes after the Premier League side failed to agree a deal with Southampton for Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Discussions are ongoing for the 22-year-old Ecuador international, with his Belgian Pro League club reportedly seeking a minimum fee of £40m. Ordonez has made 124 appearances for Club Brugge since joining in 2022 and played for his country at this summer's World Cup.
Villa had previously targeted Harwood-Bellis, but an £18m offer was rejected by Southampton, indicating a significant gap in valuation. While it remains to be seen if a transfer for the 24-year-old can be revived, Unai Emery's side has reportedly moved on to other targets.
The club is looking to strengthen its squad before the 1 September transfer deadline, having lost key players such as Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne this season. Villa also lost their opening game of the season 4-0 to Brighton on Sunday.