Leeds United are close to making Tottenham Hotspur defender Joe Rodon their fourth signing of the summer.
According to Daily Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath, the two clubs have reached an agreement over a season-long-loan deal and only the formalities need ironing out to seal his switch.
Leeds have been prioritising the addition of a centre-back in the last week or two and appear to have finally landed their man in Rodon.
Rodon has lost his way a bit at Spurs over the last couple of years and spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Rennes, where he played 22 times in all competitions.
However, he has already proven himself to be a top defender at this level while at Swansea City, which is what earned him his big move to Spurs in the first place.
Bale says Leeds target Rodon would be ‘fantastic’ in the PL
Back in the 2020/21 season, Rodon played alongside his former Wales international teammate Gareth Bale at Spurs, whom he became very close with.
Speaking only 12 months ago to Wales Online, Bale claimed that Rodon should be playing regularly at Spurs as he has the potential to be a ‘fantastic’ Premier League player.
He said: “For me personally, I feel like he should be playing at Tottenham. I think he’s shown time and time again how good he is, I think personally when I was there last year, I felt he deserved to be playing. He’s a top professional, he doesn’t moan – he tries to moan but I tell him not to.
“I just say keep your head down, keep working because that way the manager can never use that excuse to not play you. So he is a very good professional, he’s a great young player. Of course he knows himself he should be playing week-in and week-out.
“He wants to be playing week-in and week-out. I don’t feel like he’s really had the opportunity to play a consistent run of games at Tottenham and I feel like if he did, he would be fantastic for them. Even if he has to go to another team, he’s going to strengthen that team no matter who it is. So he’s a great player, obviously a great friend and top professional as well.”
Obviously hearing someone with Bale’s pedigree speak like that on a potential Leeds signing is good news, but it also highlights the need for him to really find his best form again.
If he can return to the levels from earlier in his career, Leeds will be signing one of the best centre-backs in the division.
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