Leeds Want to Go for the ‘monster’ Rodon Alternative They Have Been Pursuing for Months

Recent reports suggest Leeds United are ready to replace a defender they missed out on in January amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Joe Rodon.

Leeds United now know that automatic promotion from the Championship is out of their hands. A 4-0 defeat to QPR means they can only reach 93 points with a game to go after a terrible run of form that has seen them win just one of their last five games.

Among them, Ipswich Town missed the chance to overtake the Yorkshire side when they were held to a 3-3 draw by Hull City, but are only behind on goal difference as Daniel Farke’s side still have a game in hand, meaning that they only need four points from their last two games to be sure of playing Premier League football next season.

This means Leeds are likely to end up in the play-offs for a place in next season’s top flight and failure to gain promotion could have a negative impact on their transfer plans.

Leeds are keeping an eye on Rodon’s alternative

Now it has been reported that Leeds are preparing alternatives in defense should loanee Joe Rodon permanently leave Elland Road at the end of the season.

The Welshman has been a mainstay of Elland Road’s defense but as things stand he will return to Tottenham this summer. Although it is likely that he will leave the Lilywhites permanently, it is not certain whether he will return to the Yorkshire team.

According to The Sunday Mirror, Farke’s side have made plans accordingly and have identified Nat Phillips as a potential replacement, a player they are interested in for the long term. They add that Leeds missed him in January, suggesting he could even come if Rodon stays in defense despite being at a deficit.

Phillips rose to prominence in the 2020/21 season when he became a mainstay for Liverpool FC amid an unprecedented injury crisis. After a special Champions League win against RB Leipzig in 2021, Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp particularly praised the defender.

“Oh dear God. What a boy he is, what a player he is, what an evening it is for him,” the German told the media. “The concentration he has shown week in and week out since he started playing for us is absolutely incredible. He does exactly the right things at the right moment.

“He’s a monster in the air and you saw today that he’s not bad at football.”

However, in the meantime he has still not fulfilled that promise and is now on loan at Championship club Cardiff. If he returns, he will have just 12 months to run through his £65,000-a-week contract and will have to deal with a new manager at Anfield, which could open the door to his permanent exit.

And with Leeds looking for a quality option at the heart of defense, it could be a perfect fit.