After pipping Leeds United to second place, Ipswich Town could now reportedly look to swoop in for one of the Whites’ top transfer targets this summer.
Alongside Leicester City and Southampton, both Leeds and Ipswich were fighting tooth and nail all season for a place in the top two.
In the end, Leeds were the only one of those four sides not to be promoted to the Premier League and they must now face the reality of remaining a Championship club for a second successive season.
It has already been acknowledged by Leeds’ hierarchy that some key players will have to be sold this summer, though the club’s financial position is not anywhere as bad as some would suggest.
That said, it is not going to be a window where Leeds will be splashing endless amounts of cash. They spent just shy of £30 million last summer, and it would be a surprise if they exceeded that this time around.
Tottenham journalist Alasdair Gold shares worrying Joe Rodon update
With less than 48 hours until the window opens, Leeds have been linked with a handful of players in the weeks that have followed the play-off final defeat.
Chelsea’s Alfie Gilchrist is someone Leeds are keen on signing on loan, while Bobby De Cordova-Reid has also been linked. A move for Excelsior winger Couhaib Driouech is said to be ‘one to watch’ as well.
But there is no doubt that at this stage of the window, Leeds’ top priority is bringing Joe Rodon back to the club after such a successful loan spell from Tottenham last season.
Rodon triggered a one-year extension in his deal at Spurs last week but Leeds remain determined to re-sign him, even with Premier League interest.
However, according to Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold, one of the teams they could face competition from is Ipswich. If Rodon was to move there, it would be bitter pill to swallow after last season.
Speaking on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham YouTube channel, Gold provided the following update: “Joe Rodon will be heading off this summer, we wait to see where he’s going. I am intrigued to see whether he ends up at someone like Ipswich because I know Kieran McKenna is a big fan of him. I wonder whether that will be an option for him.”
Fenerbahce also touted as potential destination for Rodon
Tottenham are not just fielding interest from Premier League sides and Leeds for Rodon either, with Turkish side Fenerbahce also having been touted as a potential destination.
That is because the man who handed Rodon his first opportunity at Spurs, Jose Mourinho, following an £11m arrival, has just landed the manager’s job there.
Mourinho often spoke highly of Rodon while they worked together at Spurs and therefore it would not be a surprise if he wanted to link up again after the season the Welshman enjoyed at Leeds.
One thing is for sure, Leeds are going to have to work seriously hard if they are to prise Rodon back to Elland Road this summer.