David Prutton believes Leeds United completed a “huge” piece of transfer business by buying Joe Rodon from Tottenham for £10 million.
Rodon, who was an anchor in the Whites’ strong defense last season, adds not only skill but also leadership characteristics that were occasionally lacking.
Writing for the Yorkshire Evening Post on Friday (July 5), the former player-turned-pundit lauded Rodon’s rugged approach, equating it to that of club captain Liam Cooper, and emphasized the importance of his knowledge of Leeds’ culture and standards.
The Sky Sports host stated, “[Rodon] is one of those out-and-out leaders, the ones who are there to do the dirty work, and that does not diminish what a decent ball player he is, because Joe Rodon is a good player.”
“But I believe he also has character in the Liam Cooper style, which Leeds have benefited from in recent seasons, so having him on board can only be a good thing.
“Joe Rodon is familiar with the area and its residents. He is not relocating countries or anything foolish, but he understands what the expectations are, which is enormous.”
The 26-year-old joined the Whites in a separate transaction from Archie Gray, who moved to North London for a rumored sum of £40 million.
Archie Gray’s move to Tottenham is a difficult pill to take for Leeds United supporters.
Gray’s transfer to Tottenham Hotspur has devastated Leeds United fans.
Losing a local player with so much promise must be devastating, especially because he was regarded as a future star for the Whites and someone fans had thought would be an important member of the squad for years.
His departure, particularly given the non-promotion clause in his contract, feels like a double blow.
While getting Rodon back in return helped to ease the blow, it’s still difficult to get over the disappointment.
Fans were hoping to see Gray develop into a top player, but now they’ll have to watch him grow somewhere.
It’s not just about this transfer; it might be a reflection of the club’s future direction and the difficult decisions it must make.
But you can’t deny that Leeds have signed a Premier League-caliber defender in Rodon.
If the Whites can make a few more signings for the remainder of the summer transfer window, they will be in a very excellent position.
