Leeds United centre-back Joe Rodon has been one of the standout players for his side so far this season since arriving from Premier League Tottenham Hotspur on loan in the summer, and Whites manager Daniel Farke has hinted that he is keen on making the Welshman’s move permanent.
Rodon has quickly established himself as a mainstay of Farke’s starting XI since joining the West Yorkshire outfit, and has made a total of 24 Championship appearances so far this season, 23 of which have been starts.
Having formed a formidable defensive partnership with fellow centre-back Pascal Struijk, there is a clamour amongst the Leeds fanbase to make the Welsh international’s switch a permanent one, either in the January window or when the season draws to a close later in the year.
It has been reported that Leeds will have to stump up a considerable fee in the region of £20m in order to acquire Rodon from Spurs, and as such signing him permanently may be dependent upon whether the Whites secure promotion back to the Premier League this term.
What has Farke said?
Speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference ahead of his side’s home clash with Preston this Sunday, Farke indicated that he is extremely happy with how Rodon has adapted to life at Elland Road, and hinted that work is going on “behind the scenes” to sign the defender on a permanent basis.
The German was also quick to stress that signing the 26-year-old is not an immediate priority this January given the other areas in the squad which need addressing, namely in both full-back positions.
“Behind the scenes we are working,” said Farke (as per the Yorkshire Evening Post).
“We are more than happy with Joe. You see him growing into this club more into a leader role. You see how much it means to him to defend this white shirt.
“I think he is happy to be here and be an important part. He was crucial to our really good performances and development during the season.
“We would like him to stay for a bit longer, it’s not an urgent topic, he will stay with us until the end of the season. We have a few other things to concentrate on before we plan for the summer.
“Joe is in our plans for sure, he is not our player yet, we are a bit depending on what the other parties say about this topic. We try behind the scenes with this stuff.”
Making Rodon a Leeds player would be a boost – but not the priority now
Rodon has without doubt been a revelation since joining Leeds in the summer, with his presence in the side providing a calm and composed element to the Whites’ back-line.
But Farke is right to temper expectation, as whilst it would be great to tie the Welshman down on a permanent deal this January, there are undoubtedly other areas on the field which need addressing first.
As Farke rightly states, there is no way that Rodon could be recalled by Spurs this month as per the terms of his contract, and as such he will remain playing in white until at least the end of the season.
One to revisit during the summer window certainly, but Leeds fans will be reassured to know that wheels are currently being set in motion behind the scenes.
