Crystal Palace faces a crucial decision regarding the potential acquisition of Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez after unexpected issues emerged during the player's medical examination. The 22-year-old Ecuador international, who represented his country at the recent World Cup, had been widely expected to complete a transfer to Selhurst Park before the complications arose.
Earlier in the week, reports indicated that Palace had successfully intercepted Aston Villa's pursuit of the center-back. The agreed framework involved an initial temporary transfer for the season, accompanied by an option for the London club to make the acquisition permanent at a later date.
Management at Crystal Palace was fully informed that the defender was in the process of recovering from a broken metatarsal when they entered into negotiations with the Belgian club. However, evaluations conducted during the medical assessment suggest the fracture may be more severe than the coaching and medical staff initially anticipated. Consequently, club officials must now determine whether to finalize the agreement or withdraw from the transfer.
The Premier League side has been actively searching for defensive reinforcements following a recent injury concern during their match against Everton, where Chadi Riad had to be removed from the pitch on a stretcher. Palace previously secured the temporary services of Axel Disasi from Chelsea earlier in the week, yet the club remains eager to bring in an additional central defender to bolster their backline for the remainder of the campaign.
With the transfer window reaching its critical final stages, the Eagles are expected to announce their final verdict on the Ordonez transfer shortly. Should the deal collapse due to the medical findings, Palace may need to pivot quickly to alternative defensive targets to ensure sufficient squad depth.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
