Leeds United coach Daniel Farke has opened up on his admiration for Joe Rodon but any permanent deal for the Tottenham Hotspur loanee will likely have to wait until the summer.
The Yorkshire giants signed two players on loan from Tottenham last year, and it’s fair to say one has faired a damn sight better than the other. Djed Spence barely featured before Leeds cut short his time at Elland Road this month.
Joe Rodon, in contrast, is a name written in indelible ink on Farke’s team sheet, playing the full 90 minutes in 20 of Leeds’ last 24 Championship outings.
But, ahead of Sunday’s visit of Preston North End, The Whites boss indicated that any decision over Rodon’s long-term future is likely to be postponed until June.
Tottenham loanee thriving at Leeds United
“Behind the scenes we’re working, there’s no doubt about this,” Farke tells the Yorkshire Evening Post. “We’re more than happy with Joe, his performances and (the way he is) developing. You see him growing more and more into a leader role.
“I think he’s happy to be here, happy to be an important part (of the squad). He was crucial to our really good performances, so we’re more than happy. We would like him to stay for a bit longer but it’s not an urgent topic.”
Farke insists that Rodon ‘will stay for the rest of the season’, easing concerns over a potential return to a Tottenham side who have suffered their fair share of defensive injuries of late.
Leeds’ hopes of retaining the former Swansea City colossus on a permanent basis, however, may depend on how the next few months pan out on the pitch, with Rodon’s stand-out performances likely to have caught the eye of many a Premier League scout.
Joe Rodon’s future uncertain
“The next 12 days, we have a few other things to concentrate on, and then it will be possible to focus and plan for the summer,” the former Norwich and Borussia Monchengladbach boss adds.
“Joe is in our plans but he’s not our player yet. We’re a bit depending on what the other parties think about this topic. We’ll definitely try behind the scenes to do our stuff. You know how much I like and value Joe and his importance for the team.”
Tottenham signed Rodon in an £11 million deal from Swansea back in 2020. He’s started only eight Premier League games in the last three-and-a-half years, however. The £26 million signing of Radu Dragusin makes a fresh start at his parent club even more unlikely.
Spurs sent Spence to Genoa as part of the Dragusin deal, before Ivan Perisic sealed his much-discussed return to Hajduk Split today.
Leeds, meanwhile, have seen their links with £4 million Hammarby defender Nathaniel Adjei played down.
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