‘Different level’: £18m Tottenham-linked defender was once wowed by Spurs star

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The Evening Standard claimed on Monday that Tottenham are interested in signing Swansea City’s Joe Rodon.

Spurs have had an incredible transfer window having signed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joe Hart, Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon and Gareth Bale. Daniel Levy has done a remarkable job and deserves a ton of credit, but if there is one criticism that can be levied, it is Tottenham’s failure to sign a new central defender.

Jose Mourinho tried hard to bring in a new centre-half before the window shut on Monday. Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar and Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger were reportedly his top targets, but a deal to sign either of them failed to materialise.

Spurs cannot sign a defender from outside England anymore, but domestic deals are still very much possible. A move for Rodon is definitely on the cards as a result, and the Welshman would be an interesting signing.

The Swansea City defender has improved incredibly over the last two years. Tottenham value the defender at around £7 million, but that falls well short of the Swans’ £18 million asking-price.

However, Tottenham could have an ace up their sleeve. A move from the Championship to one of the top sides in the country is clearly an upgrade to Rodon, and a friendly face in the Spurs squad could make him push for a move even more.

Rodon, when he was 19, was called up to train with the Wales national squad. That was his first experience at senior level, and what he witnessed there truly wowed him.

He told Swansea’s official website in 2017: “It was amazing – I have never experienced anything like it. Gareth Bale was on a different level, as you would expect. Everything he did was up there – you could see why he is one of the best players in the world even in one training session.”

Spurs wouldn’t really have to work hard in convincing Rodon to make the switch as long as they agree a fee with Swansea. However, if the Welshman is unsure of a move, a quick phone call from Bale should do the trick.