Aston Villa are “fighting” Everton for Club Brugge star Joel Ordonez – a player who stands between them and Champions League glory this week.

The versatile 20-year-old, who can play as a centre-half or right-back, is claimed to look ideal for the Premier League with his ability and strength, says a report by The Sun’s transfer specialist, Alan Nixon.

Ecuadorian international Ordonez helped shut Villa out in the group stage in November when Unai Emery’s men lost 1-0 at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium, and they have “been on his trail” ever since, it is claimed.

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The two sides meet again on Tuesday when Villa travel to Belgium for their last-16 first leg.

The report states that Villa, however, have a rival Premier League side interested in the defender, with Everton said to be watching closely as they are “desperate to land him,” too.

Rated at £40million by the Belgium side, Nixon says that Villa see him as an 'ideal replacement' for Tyrone Mings. The England international signed a two-year contract extension in February 2023, committing him to the club until 2026, but has had a number of injury problems this season, limited to just 13 appearances in all competitions.

Nixon claims that the Toffees also plan a summer revamp and fancy Ordonez him as the right sided centre-back in a five at the back.

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