Phil Hay has shared that Leeds United targeted Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Nat Phillips before signing Joe Rodon on a loan deal in the summer.
The Tottenham Hotspur loanee has been instrumental for Daniel Farke this season, starting 29 of the Whites’ 33 Championship matches this season.
However, it could have been a very different story, with The Athletic journalist (21 February) disclosing that Manchester City’s Harwood-Bellis and Liverpool’s Phillips emerged as potential candidates.
Joe Rodon undroppable force for Leeds United
Leeds fans will never want to find out how the current season would have turned out should they have not signed Rodon on a season-long loan in the summer.
The 26-year-old has been an incredible revelation at Elland Road, with rumours suggesting that the club are attempting to find a deal to sign the defender permanently.
Harwood-Bellis possesses very similar attributes, and may even be a bigger threat in the attacking half of the pitch, but Rodon has still emerged as one of the best defenders in the division.
The centre-back has formed a partnership with fellow countryman Ethan Ampadu in recent weeks, with Pascal Struijk’s injury offering the pair a chance to bond in defence ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland in March.
If Leeds were to sign Rodon on a permanent deal, it could be a signing that breaks the bank. But if Elland Road is capable of being a Premier League ground next season, it could absolutely be worth the money.
The Whites, against all odds, are now closing in on first position in the Championship. Leicester City looked to be running away with the league, but the two sides are separated by just nine points and an upcoming meeting could reduce it to six.
Rodon’s impact in defence is evident, especially with the number of goals conceded this season. Leicester and Leeds are joint-first when it comes to the least number of goals conceded in the Championship.
The campaign is set for a nail-biting finish.
