The possibility that Leeds United would not retain Joe Rodon past this season is raised by rumors that the team is interested in Nat Phillips of Liverpool.
Rodon is among the finest defenders in the Championship and one of Leeds’ greatest performers thus far this season. This season, he has recovered from setbacks more than any other defender in the division. He has also been a regular for Leeds, who have been in a close race with Suffolk Town for promotion to the Premier League.
It is evident how crucial Rodon has been to the Whites after 42 league games played.With just 41 goals conceded thus far, Leeds boast the second-best defense in the league, in part because of Rodon’s outstanding back-row efforts at Elland Road.
It was always going to be a risk for the team to retain him past this season because he is only on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
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Leeds have been linked with a move for Nat Phillips
Leeds has been linked to a bid for Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, despite the fact that supporters are enamored with Rodon’s performances this season.
During the second half of the season, the center-back was on loan to Cardiff City, where he made an impression on Erol Bulut’s team. Since joining the team, he has started almost every league game, which has helped the Bluebirds improve and move up the standings.
| Nat Phillips’ stats for Cardiff City – Transfermarkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Starts | Minutes | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets |
| 17 | 16 | 1442 | 26 | 5 |
These performances have drawn the attention of Daniel Farke’s side, according to the print edition of The Mirror. They reported that Leeds are interested in signing the defender, after also reportedly targeting him for a transfer in January.
Phillips’ contract with Liverpool extends until 2026, so this will be the last season the Premier League side will be able to command a decent fee for the defender. However, it will be well below what Rodon would cost the club if they made a permanent move for the Welshman once the season ends.
Signing Phillips makes a move for Rodon unlikely
If Leeds do sign Phillips from Liverpool in the summer, it looks unlikely that they will sign Rodon on a permanent deal as well.
With fears over a potential points deduction due to financial issues, the club will be wary about making too many moves in the upcoming transfer window.
If Leeds don’t win promotion to the Premier League, their scope for transfers will be narrowed even further, with the lack of top tier TV money greatly reducing their ability to spend on new players.
The pair both play similarly, as tall, strong defenders who are decent enough with the ball at their feet. Phillips could prove either a replacement for Rodon or a back-up, although with the fee and wages required to sign him, it is unlikely they would be able to buy both.
The fee required to sign Rodon is, according to Football Insider, set to be around £10-15 million. If Leeds win promotion, then that fee may be a realistic one for them to pay. However, if they fail to win promotion, then that is a much too high a fee to pay for a Championship club, unless they sell some of their star players in the summer.
With Phillips bouncing around various clubs in recent years and failing to nail down a starting spot for his parent club, Leeds fans may see him as a downgrade to Rodon, given the Wales defender has been one of Leeds’ best players this season. It would be a huge shame to see him leave the club to return to Spurs in the summer, or head elsewhere, and in the eyes of so many fans, he would be the preference over Phillips.
Reports emerging about the Liverpool man now, though, suggest Leeds’ transfer strategy might just be starting to drift off their current loanee.
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