Crystal Palace's pursuit of Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez is hanging by a thread after medical checks revealed complications that could yet scupper the deal entirely. The south London club are now weighing up whether to proceed with the transfer after the 22-year-old's assessment threw up concerns more significant than Palace had originally anticipated.

What went wrong?

Ordonez is recovering from a broken metatarsal — an injury Palace were aware of when they entered negotiations — but the noises out of Selhurst Park suggest the severity of the problem is worse than the Eagles were first led to believe. The club are expected to make a final call on whether to push the deal through in the coming days.

It is a frustrating turn of events for Palace, who had moved swiftly and decisively to hijack Aston Villa's move for the Ecuador international. BBC Sport reported this week that Palace had agreed an initial loan arrangement with Brugge that included an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season — a structure that had seemingly put them in pole position to land one of European football's more sought-after young centre-backs.

Palace's defensive crisis deepens

The timing could hardly be worse. Palace accelerated their search for defensive reinforcements after Chadi Riad was carried off on a stretcher during the fixture against Everton on Saturday, leaving Oliver Glasner's backline stretched and vulnerable. The club moved quickly to bring Axel Disasi in on loan from Chelsea — a deal completed on Wednesday — but the intention has always been to add a second central defender to the squad before the window closes.

If the Ordonez deal collapses, Palace will be back to square one in their hunt for cover at the heart of defence, with time pressing and the market increasingly thin at that position. The club will need to act fast should they decide against proceeding with the Ecuador international.

The bigger picture for Ordonez

For Ordonez himself, this is a difficult situation. The defender featured for Ecuador at this summer's World Cup and has attracted attention from several top clubs. A move to the Premier League would represent a significant step up, but any prospective buying club will now have fresh questions about the extent of the metatarsal injury and the likely timeline for a return to full fitness.

Villa, meanwhile, will be monitoring developments with considerable interest. Having seen their original move hijacked by Palace, they could yet find themselves back in contention if the medical concerns prove decisive and Palace walk away from the table.

The market is watching closely. Palace need bodies and they need them quickly — the question now is whether Ordonez remains their man or whether Glasner's recruitment team are forced to look elsewhere with the window in its final stages.

FAQs

Frequently asked

Why is Joel Ordonez's move to Crystal Palace in doubt?
Ordonez's medical at Crystal Palace revealed that his broken metatarsal injury is more serious than the club originally believed. Palace are now deciding whether to proceed with the loan deal.
Which clubs were trying to sign Joel Ordonez?
Aston Villa were first linked with the Club Brugge defender, but Crystal Palace hijacked that move and agreed an initial loan deal with an option to buy. Villa could re-enter the race if Palace pull out.
Who have Crystal Palace already signed to strengthen their defence?
Palace completed the loan signing of Chelsea defender Axel Disasi earlier in the week, but remain keen to add a second centre-back to their squad.