Tottenham are reportedly eyeing a surprise move for Leeds United ace Dan James in the last few days of the transfer window – a player Joe Rodon said has not got “a bad bone in his body” and is both “brilliant” and “very talented”.
James, 24, has endured an up-and-down start to life at Elland Road. Joining Leeds last summer from Manchester United for a fee of £25million, he scored just four goals and laid on five assists in his first season for Leeds.
Despite that, the Wales international is said to be a late target for Tottenham. Sun journalist Alan Nixon claims on his Patreon channel that James has emerged as a shock £20million target for Spurs, in the final week of the window.
A shock, given his inconsistent form at Leeds – and Tottenham’s wealth of attacking talent in the final third. But he is a player that earned praise from Wales teammate and ex-Swansea teammate Rodon, while he was at United in 2019.
“DJ hasn’t got a bad bone in his body,” Rodon told Dai Sport. “I’ve grown up with Dan in the academy (at Swansea) and he’s a brilliant kid. He’s hit the ground running at United and hopefully he can continue to do it.
“It’s a massive club and for him to go there and do that is a credit to him and all of the development over the years. Dan’s a very talented and quick player with and without the ball. So hopefully he can be a big player for us [Wales].”
Tottenham eyeing James: Rodon said Leeds player is ‘brilliant’ in 2019
While he is clearly a player that Rodon rates highly, do Tottenham really need him? James was very good against Chelsea on Sunday at Elland Road. The Whites produced a stunning performance against Thomas Tuchel’s side.
But Tottenham are well-stocked in the final third. Even if Antonio Conte would want him as a wing-back, Spurs also have numerous options on both flanks. Matt Doherty, Djed Spence, Emerson Royal, Ryan Sessegnon and Ivan Perisic.
A good player, but perhaps not the kind of player that would improve what Tottenham already have. He is the ideal kind of Conte player, but Tottenham simply do not need him.
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