Before Daniel Farke was hired at Elland Road, Leeds United was rumored to have been interested in Steve Cooper. In 2020, the manager stated he had no intention of selling Joe Rodon to Tottenham.
This season, Rodon, 26, is a star at Leeds. Since loaning out to Leeds from Spurs, the Wales national has been on fire and a vital member of Farke’s team. After three challenging years at Spurs after signing from Swansea.
It has proven to be a bad decision for Rodon. Before an arduous loan at Rennes, he played in just 24 games for the North London club in two years. He is at last content and displaying his full form at Leeds.
Cooper served as Swansea’s manager at the time. He was reportedly offered the job at Nottingham Forest recently, but it is said that Leeds gave him some thought during the summer before the Whites decided to bring in Farke.
After Rodon’s £11 million transfer from Swansea to Tottenham, Cooper revealed in an interview with BBC Sport that he never intended to sell the defender, who is now a vital component in Farke’s bid for promotion.
Coventry City vs. Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship
“I didn’t participate in the talks. I don’t decide how much to pay new or departing players. Three years ago, upon Rodon’s resignation, Cooper stated, “I just give my view and that’s what I’ve done.”
“In terms of fees, salaries, contracts, things like that, that’s not my remit. I didn’t want him to go. Who would want one of their biggest assets to leave? Whatever I feel about it is irrelevant. He has gone.”
Leeds eyed Steve Cooper; He never wanted to sell Joe Rodon
Had Leeds made a move for Cooper in the summer, and signed Rodon, you would imagine that the defender would have excelled to the standard he is now – or, even more. But, Farke was chosen instead.
Cooper will now be on the lookout for a new job, with Forest expected to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo – who has since left Al-Ittihad and replaced by Marcelo Gallardo. Ironically, another gaffer linked with us.
