It’s been claimed this week that Rennes cannot afford to sign Joe Rodon this summer and Nottingham Forest would be wise to try and pounce instead of pursuing Conor Coady.
Now, Rodon could be on the market again. The Wales defender is someone known by Steve Cooper following their time together with Swansea and he’d represent a smarter signing than Conor Coady who has been linked with a move to the Reds.
Rodon has just finished a loan spell with Rennes. For the second half of the campaign, he was turning out alongside Djed Spence; with Rennes finishing fourth following a sound campaign in Ligue 1.
The centre-back made 22 appearances for Rennes during his loan spell. Ideally, he’d have welcomed the chance to play more and the 25-year-old will crave more senior football next season.
His next move won’t be back to Rennes. Their director Maurice told Fabrizio Romano: “As for Joe, there is a very high purchase option. Evidently, it won’t be possible for us to raise that amount.”
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Cooper is a fan of Rodon. In 2020 when he was bursting onto the scene with Swansea, the Forest head coach called him a ‘pure defender’ and ‘fantastic’ after a performance against Preston (BBC).
Forest should go for Rodon over Coady
Nothing against the £62,000-a-week Coady who remains one of the game’s very best professionals. The way he conducts himself as a footballer is arguably unrivalled and he’s a credit to his profession.
At 30-years-old, however, his best days might be behind him. Last season, he was dropped to the bench for the second half of the season by Sean Dyche at Everton.
One plus of Coady is that he’s useful as part of a back three. However, signing him and paying a fee would represent a bit of a short-term fix and Forest will perhaps try and avoid that this summer.
Rodon is a player who is still improving. At 25, he has his best years ahead of him and he might just see Cooper as the man to get him back to his best and performing on a regular basis.
The Wales international would cost more than Coady. Still, he’d be a better investment for Forest and perhaps this option is a better one to pursue this summer.