Leeds United’s interest in re-signing Joe Rodon continues to be the main topic of incoming transfer business right now.
With the window now seven days old, it has been a slow start from Leeds‘ perspective, though the imminent exits of Jack Harrison and Marc Roca could set the wheels in motion.
There has been radio silence from Rodon and his camp almost a month on from the play-off final defeat to Southampton at Wembley.
Having pulled out of the Wales squad, clearly Rodon is just wanting to enjoy his off-season after a long and mentally draining 10 month campaign for both club and country.
The 26-year-old is the only one of Leeds’ three departing loanees not to have posted a message on Instagram expressing his gratitude for his time at the club.
Both Connor Roberts and Jaidon Anthony have already done so, both of which read like goodbyes, even if Leeds do remain interested in signing the former again. That could be a sign Rodon is leaving the door open.
Graham Smyth shares two advantages Leeds have in Rodon race
The biggest problem Leeds are going to have in their quest to sign Rodon is the growing Premier League interest in his signature.
Even though the three main clubs to have been linked are all newly promoted, Leeds are simply not going to be able to compete financially for however long they remain a Championship side.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is said to be a big fan of Rodon and also tried to sign him last summer, while new Leicester City manager Steve Cooper is also keen.
However, speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road Podcast, journalist Graham Smyth has shared a more positive perspective on Leeds’ hopes of signing him.
He believes Rodon’s happiness at Elland Road last season, as well as the friendships he formed with his teammates, will stand Leeds in good stead ahead of other interested clubs.
He said: “With the Rodon thing that might be quite protracted as I don’t think there will be a loan if they go in for him. There will be others who want him as well and they are going to have to put together a really solid case.
“Part of their solid case will be that he wants to be here, as by all accounts last season he felt like he had found a home at Elland Road. That will weigh massively in Leeds’ favour, though I’m not saying that money doesn’t talk and Premier League status doesn’t talk.
“But I certainly think when at least two of your best pals from your international team and all the friends you made last season, he was very close with Archie Gray and a couple of others.
“When they are still at Leeds, touch wood, then why not go back and enjoy yourself a second year to get the job done. He feels to me like a I want to get the job done and completed type of bloke.”
Rodon’s past comments echo latest Smyth update
Smyth’s latest comments on Rodon are certainly a reflection of what the Welshman had to say just before the play-off final regarding the possibility of a permanent move.
Rodon explained how Leeds has now become a ‘second home’ for him, and while the failure of Wembley has certainly given him something to think about, clearly he loved his time at the club.
He said: “It would be nice to have stability and know where I am next season. I’ve always strived to get to the elite level and hopefully I can get back there with Leeds, but you never know.
“I don’t want to look too far into the future, although I do love it here and Leeds feels like a second home to me now. I’m just concentrating on giving my best and getting this club back to where it belongs.”