Crystal Palace is reportedly set to revive their interest in Joel Ordonez, the Club Brugge defender, when the January transfer window opens. The Eagles had been close to securing the Ecuador international towards the end of August, but a proposed summer move collapsed due to fitness concerns.

• Personal terms were not an issue, and Ordonez had agreed to join Palace in a deal worth around €30m (£26m) plus add-ons.
• However, medical tests revealed that the foot injury he suffered during the World Cup was more severe than initially expected, specifically a broken metatarsal.
• As a result, Palace decided to withdraw from the transfer rather than risk a significant investment in a player likely facing an extended recovery.

In the wake of this setback, Palace quickly secured Honest Ahanor, an 18-year-old on loan from Atalanta, providing immediate cover while leaving the door open for Ordonez in the future. According to Fabrizio Romano, Palace's decision to walk away from the deal deserves credit, as it demonstrated restraint.

The club plans to reassess Ordonez's recovery in January, making the potential move more viable if he returns to full fitness and regains form. At just 22, Ordonez aligns with Palace's strategy of targeting young defenders with physical potential and resale value. However, the possibility of competition for his signature looms large; should Ordonez perform well, other clubs might enter the fray, and Club Brugge might become less amenable to negotiations at the original valuation.