Swansea City boss Steve Cooper says Joe Rodon told him he was keen to join Tottenham Hotspur and that the deadline day deal was out of his hands, the BBC report.
Rodon joined Tottenham on the final day of the window for a fee rising to £15 million.
Swansea boss Cooper evidently wanted to keep him at the Liberty Stadium.
Wales international Rodon was a key member at the back, starting every Championship game for the Swans this season, averaging an 80.9% pass accuracy rate (Whoscored).
But Cooper admits he was powerless to stop him from moving to North London.
“He came to see me straight after coming back from Wales to let me know that of course he would be interested in a move to Tottenham. I wasn’t involved in the negotiations. I don’t make those decisions on amounts for players coming in or out. I just give my view and that’s what I’ve done. In terms of fees, salaries, contracts, things like that, that’s not my remit. I didn’t want him to go. Who would want one of their biggest assets to leave? Whatever I feel about it is irrelevant. He has gone,” Cooper explained.
Tottenham have signed a 22-year-old with bags of potential to improve further.
It’s unlikely Rodon will become an instant first-teamer at Spurs. With Toby Aldweireld turning 32 this season, the former Swansea man could be his long-term replacement.
Rodon will link up with fellow Wales international Gareth Bale at Tottenham.
Swansea, meanwhile, managed to strengthen other areas of the team on deadline day with Kasey Palmer and utility man Ryan Manning arriving from fellow Championship sides.
Cooper guided Swansea to the playoffs last season. He will be hoping Rodon’s exit hasn’t left him a huge void at the back in their bid to return to the Premier League.
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