Swansea defender Joe Rodon passes the ball. (Getty Images)
According to Wales Online, Manchester United are in the hunt for Swansea defender Joe Rodon.
The 6ft 5in centre-back has been attracting the attention of Premier League clubs with his rock-solid displays at the back for Swansea in recent times. A Swansea academy graduate, the 22-year-old has quickly risen through the ranks and has now established himself as a first-choice man at the Liberty stadium.
His impressive displays last season saw Rodon being promoted to the first-team line-up this season, making 21 league appearances so far. Had it not been for an ankle injury midway into the season, he would have most likely played all of their league games this season.
Despite getting injured, the tall defender soon made his entry back into the first-team side and has been a part of seven out of their total 13 wins in the league this time.
He also has six clean sheets to his name, triggering the likes of Manchester United to keep close tabs on the Swansea man. Meanwhile, the Red Devils have a history of roping in successful Swansea players, with winger Daniel James being the most recent one.
Another Welshman like Rodon, James has gone onto become a vital member of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad, making 38 appearances across all competitions this season.
Rodon’s improved displays saw him earn himself a national team call-up in 2018. However, he was called up for a competitive fixture against Azerbaijan most recently in September. Meanwhile, United boss Solskjaer is on the lookout for a new centre-back to partner skipper and summer signing Harry Maguire in the heart of their defence.
Maguire’s arrival and consistency have seen a weak and inconsistent United defence better their performances at the back this season. The side has the third-best defensive record amongst the top-five teams in the league, conceding just 30 goals from 29 league games.
Though Maguire’s partner Victor Lindelof has bettered his displays compared to his previous seasons, he has still not won the manager’s faith completely.
This has seen Solskjaer hand over the defensive role at times to Eric Bailly at times. Bailly has been impressive since his return from his long injury layoff. However, considering the amount of injuries that he has accumulated in the past, he still remains a concern for United.
Manchester United have another centre-back in Axel Tuanzebe, however, he is young and lacks enough experience.
That said, United’s pursuit of Rodon seem entirely sensible. Moreover, being so young, Rodon still has time to develop and could be a good future investment for the Red Devils.
Despite being 22, Rodon has proved his worth in the Swansea line-up by establishing himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet. Manchester United could really make use of a player of his mould, with the rest of their defenders apart from Maguire failing to show some consistency. Thus, United should try to bring the tall youngster to Old Trafford with an eye on the future.
