Leeds United are looking to bolster their defensive department after Joe Rodon’s departure and hopes at Elland Road may have been boosted following one target’s recent comments.
Rodon moved to West Yorkshire on a season-long from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur last summer and was instrumental to the team’s push for promotion under head coach Daniel Farke. The Welshman made 50 appearances in all competitions for the Whites and was a mainstay in the starting lineup upon arrival.
It became public knowledge that Leeds were very keen to sign Rodon on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign, but any future deal was conducive to whether or not Farke’s side managed to earn promotion back to the top-flight at the first time of asking.
Unfortunately, Leeds United fell at the final hurdle, losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final back in May and thus were condemned to another season of Championship football. As a result, a permanent acquisition of the central defender was immediately cast into doubt.
However, despite a possible transfer looking dead in the water, it has been revealed over the past 24 hours that the Whites have the opportunity to sign Rodon as part of a swap deal with Tottenham for 18-year-0ld star Archie Gray which looks to be moving closer to completion. Fabrizio Romano even reported that this deal is set to be finalised.
Nevertheless, Farke may still be looking at other targets this summer to strengthen his squad’s depth at the back. One name that has been touted with a move to Elland Road is Gent centre-back Jordan Torunarigha, according to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, who reported in May that the second-tier outfit face competition from Bundesliga sides Stuttgart and Hoffenheim for the 26-year-old’s signature. Furthermore, Plettenberg has stated he may be available for around £2.5 million.
In a recent interview with Transfermarkt, the Nigeria international admitted that he is “ready for the next step” and that there have been some exciting enquiries for his services [quotes via Inside Futbol]:
“There are very exciting and specific inquiries that I am dealing with.
“I feel good, I’m in top shape and ready for the next step.”
Writer’s View
If Leeds United are to battle for promotion next season via the play-offs or possibly by lifting the Championship title, Farke needs more depth at the back. Liam Cooper has yet to sign a new deal with the club while Pascal Struijk spent long periods of the previous campaign on the sidelines.
Quite often, Ethan Ampadu, who was initially brought in to play in the middle of the park, had to drop in at the heart of the defence. Signing someone like Torunarigha for a relatively low price to play alongside Rodon or as a squad player could be the key to the side’s stability next season.
