Leeds United left stunned by transfer update as contract offered to Wales star

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly decided to extend the contract of Leeds United transfer target Joe Rodon, despite speculation that his future lies elsewhere.

Earlier this week, the club confirmed that Ryan Sessegnon and Japhet Tanganga had been released from their contracts after the options to extend their deals by another 12 months were not taken up. Both defenders are now on the hunt for new clubs.

However, in the case of Spurs and Wales centre-back Rodon, the club chose to exercise the option within his contract to extend his deal to the full five years possible. The Welshman was informed last month, according to football.london.

READ MORE: Bombshell Leeds United transfer claim made as Wales star could leave

READ MORE: Bournemouth boss gives Kieffer Moore a choice after failed Cardiff City transfer bids

After a successful season away from the club, there is expected to be significant interest in him this summer.

The additional 12 months will ensure Tottenham receive a fee for Rodon if he leaves as anticipated, given he is not part of Ange Postecoglou's plans for next season. The Australian manager admitted towards the end of the season that he was looking to sign another centre-back to compete with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin

When Rodon was signed in the summer of 2020, the club announced that he had signed a contract until 2025. However, football.london understands that, like Sessegnon and Tanganga, it was a contract that ended this summer with an option to extend it by an extra year.

Rodon was a key figure in Leeds' defence this season, helping them secure third place with 90 points and reach the Championship play-off final, where they were defeated by Southampton at Wembley. The 26-year-old Wales international, who played 50 times for Daniel Farke's team, was regarded as one of the top-performing centre-backs in the division last season and certainly a standout at Leeds.

Leeds did not have an option to permanently sign the ex-Swansea player, and Farke confessed during the season that the club intended to negotiate some sort of deal with Tottenham, where Rodon has only made 24 appearances since signing nearly four years ago.

NEWSLETTER: Sign-up to the Welsh football newsletter so you don't miss a story on the national team

With Leeds staying in the Championship for another year, it's uncertain whether they'll still have the funds to sign Rodon at this stage, although the player is believed to have enjoyed his season in Yorkshire. A number of clubs are expected to show interest this summer in a player who contributed to a series of clean sheets, with 11 alone in the first three months of 2024.

Rodon recently pulled out of the Wales squad for their friendlies against Gibraltar and Slovakia due to the physical toll of his lengthy season with Leeds and his country, playing almost 60 matches throughout the campaign.

After extending Rodon's contract, Spurs will be looking to capitalise on his successful season and use the money to fund their search for new additions to Postecoglou's team.