Leeds United: Liverpool transfer link surely means concern over Joe Rodon deal - View | OneFootball

Leeds United being linked with a move for Liverpool's Nat Phillips could cast doubt on the club keeping Joe Rodon beyond this season.

Rodon has been one of Leeds' best players so far this year, and one of the best defenders in the entire Championship. He has made more recoveries than any other defender in the division this season, and has been a constant presence in a Leeds side that have been neck-and-neck with Ipswich Town in the battle for Premier League promotion.

With 42 league appearances so far, it is easy to see how important Rodon has been for the Whites. Leeds have the second-best defence in the division, conceding just 41 times so far, partly thanks to Rodon's great performances at the back at Elland Road.

As he is only on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, it was always going to be a gamble whether or not the club were able to keep him beyond this campaign.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Nat Phillips

Despite fans being enamoured with the performances of Rodon this season, Leeds have been linked with a move for Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

The centre-back has been on loan at Cardiff City in the second half of the season, and has impressed for Erol Bulut's side. He has started nearly every game in the league since joining the side, leading to a turnaround in from that has led the Bluebirds up the table.

These performances have drawn the attention of Daniel Farke's side, according to the print edition of The Mirror. They reported that Leeds are interested in signing the defender, after also reportedly targeting him for a transfer in January.

Phillips' contract with Liverpool extends until 2026, so this will be the last season the Premier League side will be able to command a decent fee for the defender. However, it will be well below what Rodon would cost the club if they made a permanent move for the Welshman once the season ends.

Signing Phillips makes a move for Rodon unlikely

If Leeds do sign Phillips from Liverpool in the summer, it looks unlikely that they will sign Rodon on a permanent deal as well.

With fears over a potential points deduction due to financial issues, the club will be wary about making too many moves in the upcoming transfer window.

If Leeds don't win promotion to the Premier League, their scope for transfers will be narrowed even further, with the lack of top tier TV money greatly reducing their ability to spend on new players.

The pair both play similarly, as tall, strong defenders who are decent enough with the ball at their feet. Phillips could prove either a replacement for Rodon or a back-up, although with the fee and wages required to sign him, it is unlikely they would be able to buy both.

The fee required to sign Rodon is, according to Football Insider, set to be around £10-15 million. If Leeds win promotion, then that fee may be a realistic one for them to pay. However, if they fail to win promotion, then that is a much too high a fee to pay for a Championship club, unless they sell some of their star players in the summer.

With Phillips bouncing around various clubs in recent years and failing to nail down a starting spot for his parent club, Leeds fans may see him as a downgrade to Rodon, given the Wales defender has been one of Leeds' best players this season. It would be a huge shame to see him leave the club to return to Spurs in the summer, or head elsewhere, and in the eyes of so many fans, he would be the preference over Phillips.

Reports emerging about the Liverpool man now, though, suggest Leeds' transfer strategy might just be starting to drift off their current loanee.