Phil SumblerIn the same way with Connor Roberts and Burnley, Joe Rodon has had very limited game time at Tottenham Hotspur this season that has sparked many stories as to what will happen to the Welsh former Swansea City defender in the January transfer window.
When Rodon made his move to North London in October 2020 it was designed to be the next stage of his career. Having progressed through the ranks at Swansea City and earning appearances for both club and country during that time it was a chance too good to turn down and £11m (with add-ons) came the way of the Swans as we sought to keep our financial heads above water in the eyes of the pandemic.
Fast forward 14 months and Rodon has 13 starts (and 7 substitute) appearances for Tottenham and has not featured in the Premier League since September when he made a substitute appearance against Crystal Palace. Four Europa Conference League fixtures and an EFL appearance (ironically the only time Roberts featured for Burnley) make up his appearance tally this season.
It is not what the player would want as we head into a New Year that could see Wales appear in a first World Cup finals since 1958 and, more importantly, I am sure Rodon will want to be playing football on a regular basis whether Wales come successfully through the March play offs or not.
Rodon is said to becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of opportunities coming his way at Spurs and that will alert a lot of clubs to his potential availability. Incredibly, Rodon is already under his fourth manager in those 14 months and that has not helped his first team chances.
He is said to be open to that loan move in January but with Cristian Romero injured then it could mean they wish to hold onto the player although Rodon seems to now find himself behind Spurs academy graduate Japhet Tanganga who has six times as many Premier League appearances as Rodon.
Rodon will have noted the move of his former team mate and friend Dan James in the last transfer window who is now back playing regular football and that will not be lost on him as he weighs up his options in the New Year.
Leeds United and Burnley have both been linked with a move for Rodon but he will have no shortage of suitors – international centre backs do not become available every day let alone those who have never really put a foot wrong on the rare occasions that Spurs do call on him.
Graham Potter and Brighton are also said to be keeping watching brief with Potter knowing Rodon well from his time in Swansea.
Whatever the destination though, for the sake of Wales and Robert Page, Rodon needs to make that move and prove that he can make it at Premier League level – we have little doubt here that he can.
I’m a Spurs fan – I think it’s ridiculous Rodon hasn’t had so much more game time. He was certainly our best/least ineffective defender last season….you are right he never let us down in a defensive line-up that could create more goals for the opposition than that oppositions creative players.
His challenge this season is slightly different. Firstly, Romero when fit was always going to play so Joe was fighting for one place with Eric Dier. Normally, that would have made him a shoe-in……but Dier has actually looked solid in both a back-four and a three.
Tanganga isn’t better than Joe – he offers something Joe doesn’t which is experience as an RB. That is excellent to have in the three – look at Davies on the left.
So, really, he is fighting for the central space in that three – and the. You go back to Dier’s form.
What I can’t believe is when Sanchez is picked ahead of Rodon…….
I think all Spurs fans feel we wouldn’t begrudge him a loan (or even a perm move) to get that game time…….but we also know he is a top drawer defender and can’t understand why he hasn’t played more often.
Sanchez is always an odd one. I think it was the FA Cup tie down here when he looked so out of his depth it wasn’t real (may have been a PL game) and he certainly isn’t a patch on Rodon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts – from what I have read then they match many Spurs fans views?