Premier League teams will be “lurking in the shadows” to sign Tottenham defender Joe Rodon this summer, according to Alan Hutton.
The Welshman has enjoyed an excellent season on loan with Leeds United, but it ultimately ended in disappointment as the Whites missed out on promotion to the Premier League with their playoff final defeat to Southampton.
Most had expected the 26-year-old to make his move to Elland Road permanent this summer and while Fabrizio Romano (21 May) has suggested he will likely leave Spurs again, it remains to be seen if Leeds could afford such a deal.
Although Hutton admits there is a chance Ange Postecoglou could reintegrate Rodon back into his first team in pre-season, he believes the Welsh international will be keen to continue to play regular first-team football and teams like Leicester City could be keen on him.
“He’s got the taste for playing regular football,” Hutton told Tottenham News.
“For me as a player, that’s all you ever want to do so that will be he is the main focus. He’s an international player, he’ll want to play regularly and these will all factor into his decision.
“You look at the teams coming up, do they fancy somebody like him? Of course, I think they would, I think he has gone and shown what he is more than capable of.
“I think there will be one or two other clubs within the Premier League that will be lurking in the shadows if they can get a deal done.
“I think even if he comes back and Ange decides there is an opportunity for him here, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will play when they’re fit so it is always going to be difficult.
“I think having had that opportunity to play regular football, he’ll want to continue that, especially at his age.”
Will Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham sell Joe Rodon in the summer transfer window?
It felt like an almost certainty that Rodon would return to Leeds next season once they had secured promotion to the Premier League, but that defeat to the Saints at Wembley completely changed the landscape of a potential deal.
Unless something changes drastically, the Welshman isn’t going to force his way into Postecoglou’s backline next season. If he remains at Spurs, he will be little more than a rotation option and will likely be behind Radu Dragusin in the pecking order.
Therefore, it will be best for all parties involved in the deal if another permanent transfer can be agreed upon as quickly as possible. The 26-year-old needs consistent football and that isn’t on offer in North London.
Whether any Premier League teams’ interest develops into an actual bid remains to be seen, but at the moment it feels as though Rodon won’t be short of potential suitors.
