Southampton have been linked with a move for a central defender who could prove to be the perfect partner for Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Southampton were poor defensively for large parts of their promotion-winning campaign last season, conceding 63 goals in their 46 games in the regular Championship season.
For that reason, it was impressive how resolutely they defended in order to secure their Premier League return via the play-offs, conceding just once in their most important three games of the season.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis was central to that and the 22-year-old has now seen his loan deal made permanent alongside promotion.
Southampton are now linked with a move for a defender that spent the season at their play-off final opponents Leeds United, with Joe Rodon attracting interest.
Joe Rodon could be perfect partner for Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Following his loan spell at Leeds, Rodon is set to return to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
However, the 26-year-old Wales international does not look to have a future in North London and Spurs will look for a fee of between £12-15 million to allow Rodon to leave.
Leeds are keen on a reunion with the centre-back next season, whilst Southampton’s fellow newly-promoted club Ipswich Town are also interested in a move, but the Saint should do all they can to convince Rodon St Mary’s should be his next destination.
At 26, Rodon is a good age for a central defender and he showed his qualities across 46 Championship games for Leeds last season.
He is similar to Harwood-Bellis in the way that he combines old-school defending with real quality on the ball and this would make him a perfect partner to Harwood-Bellis to play Russell Martin‘s possession style.
The two players would compliment each other well and the fact that Martin opted for a back three at times in the play-offs means they could also be joined by Jan Bednarek to form a strong trio to protect Southampton’s goal.
Rodon a ‘warrior’ according to Daniel Farke
Rodon helped Leeds to 20 clean sheets in the Championship last season and was a real leader for Daniel Farke’s side.
He is a defender willing to put his body on the line for his team and Farke spoke on Rodon’s ‘warrior mentality’ following a 3-0 win over Millwall early last season.
Farke said: “Millwall had pressure on the build-up, but obviously our last line of defence saved us several times and Joe belongs to that.
“Obviously he had to be there and with many clearances, they had an aerial threat which he dealt with and that led to him getting a little cut under his eyebrow.
“But he was willing to go back on and he showed a warrior mentality and this is exactly what you need if you want to be successful, especially in such a tough game. I think he was excellent.”
With a 90.63% pass completion rate across the 46 league games he played last season according to Footy Stats, Rodon showed he will be the calm influence in possession that Martin needs in order to carry out his style of football.
Rodon may feel now is the time to have another crack at the Premier League and Southampton need to persuade him that he should do that for them and not a potential relegation rival in Ipswich.