An emerging Southampton transfer target has been told he’s free to pick his next transfer move, with interest from multiple teams.
Southampton have a number of players in their sights ahead of their Premier League return next season.
The Saints make an immediate return to the Premier League as Championship play-off winners, following a 1-0 win vs Leeds United in the final.
Russell Martin will know he needs Premier League experience and quality in order to beat the drop in his inaugural season managing in the English top flight.
And there’s some well-known names on his wishlist including the likes of former Saints duo Danny Ings and Adam Lallana.
Elsewhere, new names have also been linked, including Sunderland talisman Jack Clarke, who scored 15 goals in the Championship last season.
Another name who impressed in the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign, and who’s now wanted by Southampton, is Joe Rodon.
Southampton target Joe Rodon at Tottenham Hotspur
Rodon, 26, made 46 appearances in Championship fixtures last season, playing a key role in Leeds United’s road to the play-off final.
He spent the campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur where he now faces an uncertain future, with Southampton and Leeds United both keen on signing the Welsh international.
And an emerging report from TEAMtalk says that Rodon is ‘free to decide’ his next transfer move, with the former Swansea City man ‘taking time to consider his next move’.
Leeds United remain in the transfer race, despite Spurs wanting between £12million and £15million to part ways with the centre-back.
Will Southampton sign Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur
Rodon certainly showed with Leeds United that he’s a player who can provide at Championship level. But there remains question marks over his ability in the top flight.
He’s only made 15 Premier League appearances for Spurs. He’s not been able to kick on with the club and the fact that Spurs are now willing to part ways may suggest that they don’t think he can cut it in the top flight.
But a move to Southampton, or any club in the Premier League where he’ll get game time, could be all he needs to kick on in the top flight.
He’s a very athletic and contemporary defender who can compliment Martin’s style of play at Southampton, with his passing ability to be admired; per Sofascore, Rodon averaged the second-most passes-per-game of any Leeds player in 2023/24 (66, with a 91% accuracy).
So in that sense, Rodon could be ideal for Southampton. But whether or not the Saints are ready to spent up to £15million on Rodon, with £20million set to be spent on Taylor Harwood-Bellis, remains unclear.