Reported Liverpool transfer target Joel Ordonez reportedly had dreams of becoming a striker before becoming a highly-rated centre-back. The Reds have been strongly linked with a move for Ordonez during this January transfer window.

Liverpool attempted to bolster their defensive options last summer with a £35million swoop for Marc Guehi.

But the transfer collapsed when Crystal Palace pulled the plug on the deal that would have brought Guehi to Anfield.

Consequently, Giovanni Leoni remained the sole centre-back addition for Liverpool, prompting fresh speculation about another defensive signing, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Ordonez, 21, has emerged as a potential target for Liverpool in recent reports, with the Club Brugge star catching the eye during his stint in Belgium this season.

There have also been claims that Ordonez could be sign for approximately £43million this month, or in the summer if a deal cannot be agreed before the February 2 deadline.

Despite his reputation as a promising central defender, Ordonez's former youth coach Luis Medina has revealed that the Ecuador international originally aspired to play up front.

"Joel was a quiet, very thin, silent boy," Medina told Diario Expreso, via ESPN. "He was actually a striker, and now he might go to Liverpool as a defender. There are things God does that one doesn't understand."

"I remember that Enner scored three goals in the 2014 World Cup and Joel wanted to be a striker who appeared on television," Medina added. "He was always an attacker, he had good acceleration, long legs, he was light and very skinny.

"I felt he could be a great defender because he was strong in one-on-one situations, positioned himself well, and won duels. He marked well even without having the basics of a defender."

Medina also said: "He [Ordonez] was a good striker, but he was better at defending. He told me he wanted to score goals, and I replied that he could prevent them on defence, and that scoring goals was too much responsibility."

Liverpool have until February 2 to wrap up their transfer dealings, after which the window will shut until the summer.

The Reds have also been heavily linked with moves for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, although both players are now targets for Manchester City this month.

'I told Liverpool target to change position - now he could land dream £43m transfer' - The Mirror