Brendan Rodgers, manager of Scottish Premiership side Celtic, reportedly sent scouts to watch Swansea City defender Joe Rodon in 2017.
It has been quite the rise for Joe Rodon. Swansea City’s U23 captain has burst on to the first-team stage this season and looks right at home, starting six Championship games already and forming a terrific partnership with Mike Van der Hoorn.
A ball-playing, 20-year-old centre-half who has drawn comparisons with John Stones, Rodon was bound to have attracted admiring glances from elsewhere, particularly as his Swansea contract is due to expire in June.
The Sun (16 September, page 63) reports that Manchester City have kept a close eye on his development. And it would be little surprise if Celtic had, too.
The Sun claimed a year ago that the Scottish Premiership champions were very keen on the highly-rated Rodon, with manager Brendan Rodgers sending scouts to watch the youngster at the club he led to the Premier League in 2011.
12 months on, Celtic are still facing problems at centre-back, with Dedryck Boyata expected to leave in 2019 while Leicester City have the option to re-call on loan Croatian Filip Benkovic in the January transfer window.
Given how quickly Rodon has developed, now is the right time for Celtic to express their interest again, as Swansea manager Graham Potter plans talks over an extended deal.
Blessed with excellent technique and an impressive passing range, Rodon is exactly the sort of defender who would thrive under Rodgers.
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