Newcastle United are reportedly in pole position to secure the services of Tottenham defender Joe Rodon in January.
According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are the front-runners in the race to sign Joe Rodon. The Tottenham Hotspur defender is desperate to leave the club in January in order to find regular game-time at the highest level of football. St. James’ Park has emerged as the likely destination for the defender as he looks to put an end to his misery in north London.
Formerly of Swansea City, Rodon joined Tottenham in the summer of 2020. It was more of a panic buy from Jose Mourinho as the player was signed during the domestic transfer window in England. He was brought in to provide more depth in the defensive unit after the departure of Jan Vertonghen.
However, almost one and a half years after his move to Tottenham, Rodon has struggled with a lack of game-time. During his first season with Spurs, the Welshman could only muster 12 league appearances. His status in the first team has dwindled further in the new campaign, with the defender featuring in just one league game so far.
It appears the former Swansea City starlet has fallen behind the likes of Davinson Sanchez, Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Japhet Tanganga and even Ben Davies in the pecking order. But his struggles could open the door for Newcastle United to snap up the defender in the upcoming January transfer window, although they are set to face stiff competition from Leeds United.
The Magpies are currently in the market for defensive reinforcements, with coach Eddie Howe notably eyeing a move for Samuel Umtiti of FC Barcelona. Joe Rodon, though, is a far more realistic option as Newcastle look to launch a survival campaign during the second half of the season.
With just 13 appearances in the league, the 24-year-old does not have a great deal of experience at the highest level. But the Tottenham defender certainly has the potential to become an asset for Newcastle United, especially if he can get regular game-time under Howe.
Tottenham Hotspur themselves are not likely to make any efforts to keep hold of Rodon in January. With Antonio Conte exploring more established options like Jules Kounde, the departure of the Welshman could go a long way in freeing up some space in the team and help the Italian tactician rebuild his defensive setup in the coming future.
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