Transfer News: Tottenham Hotspur fail with swap deal involving Joe Rodon and Nicolo Zaniolo
Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t the Express) claim that Tottenham Hotspur offered £25million plus Joe Rodon in order to sign AS Roma playmaker Nicolo Zaniolo.
This audacious bid was apparently rejected. Antonio Conte is keen to land the 23-year-old Italian star while I Giallorossi have already signed Paulo Dybala on a free transfer this summer.
Rodon is clearly surplus to requirement at Spurs. If being constantly overlooked in favour of Ben Davies, a left-back, for a starting position in the three-man backline wasn’t evidence enough, being offered as a makeweight would certainly be the final nail in the coffin.
Despite being on the bench for Tottenham on most occasions, Rodon continues to be picked for Robert Page’s Wales side. But for how long can that continue?
Where next for Rodon?
The Welsh travel to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year. Regular playing time at club level can prove to be the difference between starting for your national team, being on the bench, or being overlooked altogether.
In that sense, Rodon leaving N17 makes sense. Offering him to Jose Mourinho, who knows all about him during their time at Spurs, seems sensible. The Portuguese manager can use depth in his backline given he usually plays with three centre-backs.
But not only is the Italian winger highly-rated and at an age where he will only start getting better, but he also has two years left on his deal. Roma are said to be holding out for £40million in transfer fees for the versatile forward.
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It remains to be seen where both players are headed if they summer, or if they stay at their respective clubs. Rodon would only fall further down the pecking order after Clement Lenglet’s temporary arrival while Zaniolo faces a threat from Paulo Dybala.
