According to The Athletic, as cited by Wales Online, Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Joe Rodon. The Swansea defender has been courted by a few top-flight clubs in England including Manchester United and West Ham. However, it is Spurs who are now weighing a potential bid, with Jose Mourinho keen on signing a new centre-back. Rodon is valued at around £18 million.
Who is Joe Rodon?
A product of the Swansea youth academy, Rodon is regarded as one of the most up and coming talents in the Championship, having enjoyed two promising seasons.
A centre-back by trade, the 22-year-old has impressed the onlookers with his towering presence at the back. His imposing 1.93m figure does indeed give him a considerable advantage in the air, with the defender winning 5.3 aerial duels per game this season.
However, what makes Rodon such an appealing prospect is his all-round qualities, with the youngster being particularly good at reading the game. The youngster has excellent anticipation and an immaculate positional understanding, which help him calculate when to press the opposition.
Those qualities are complemented by a domineering presence at the back – making him one of the most solid defenders in the Championship.
A Good Fit For Jose?
Rodon’s robust nature makes him an ideal component to Jose Mourinho’s system as the Portuguese tactician has evidently added a sense of fearlessness and aggression in the Tottenham backline.
However, it is the player’s ability to move up the pitch and press the opposition that could be priceless for Mourinho, who often emphasises on the importance of transition play. Rodon, in that regard, is capable of breaking the opposition’s transition with his tendency to read passes.
As a result, it won’t be surprising to see Mourinho employing Rodon in a number six role, where he will have much more freedom, as far as positioning is concerned.
Regardless, it seems the Swansea City star is being eyed as a replacement for Juan Foyth, who has joined Villarreal on a season-long loan deal. The centre-back can offer competition for the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld while offering some depth that could be useful as Tottenham Hotspur look to deal with midweek Europa League matches.
However, it will be interesting to see whether or not Spurs are willing to meet Swansea’s relatively high asking price of £18 million this summer.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
