Liverpool may need to sign another top-level centre-back in the near future, but their sights are also set on one of the best young defenders in South America.

With Giovanni Leoni tearing his ACL and doubts over the futures of both Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomezcentre-back could be a focus for Liverpool in the summer.

Regardless of whether or not Konate signs a new contract, Liverpool are expected to sign at least one new central defender – with Marc Guehi the primary target.

Liverpool scouts watching Deinner Ordonez

But the Premier League champions are also considering a number of alternatives, with Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, Bayern Munich‘s Dayot Upamecano, Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez and Sporting CP duo Ousmane Diomande and Zeno Debast linked.

As with the £26 million move for 18-year-old Leoni, there will be an ongoing pursuit of further high-potential options in the position too.

That, according to theMail‘s Lewis Steele, has seen scouts identify Independiente Del Valle’sDean Ordonezas a possible target.

Ordonez, 16, is considered “the best player of his age group in the whole of South America,” according to youth scouts and is also being tracked by Chelsea.

Hailing from the academy which produced the likes of Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie and Willian Pacho, the teenager follows a rich lineage of defensive talent.

Liverpool’s interest was first mentioned back in February, when Ordonez was still only 15, with Anfield Watch‘s Bence Bocsak reporting that scouts spotted him playing for Ecuador at the U20 Copa Sudamericana.

Global talent scouting manager Kyle Wallbanks is said to have travelled to the tournament in Venezuela, with the youngster a late addition for Ecuador and catching the eye despite bowing out at the group stage.

Why Liverpool cannot sign Ordonez until 2028

However, while a deal can be lined up with Independiente Del Valle in the meantime, Ordonez would not be eligible to join Liverpool – or any club in the Premier League for that matter – until early 2028.

That comes with post-Brexit rules restricting clubs from signing players from outside of the UK until their 18th birthday – which, for Ordonez, will be October 2027.

Chelsea did complete a deal with the same club for Kendry Paez in 2023, however, with the attacking midfielder only officially completing his switch in the summer just gone.

Liverpool are thought to have reached a similar agreement to bring in winger Sidy Barhama Ndiaye from Senegalese club Diambars FC, with his arrival slated for January 2028 when he too will be 18.