Joe Rodon looks on course to get the game time he desperately craves in 2022/23 with a season-long loan move to Rennes. Not making the trip to Israel with his Tottenham teammates for Saturday's friendly against Roma, the centre-back will instead complete a medical this weekend ahead of his loan deal to the French club, who are understood to have the option to purchase the player at the end of the campaign for €20million (£16.7m).
It is a much-needed move for the Welshman, especially with the 2022 World Cup on the horizon. A regular at the back for his country, Rodon desperately requires the minutes to ensure he is in the best possible position for Wales' historic World Cup campaign.
Playing a bit-part role in N17 ever since his move from Swansea City in October 2020, the 24-year-old made 10 appearances in total for the Lilywhites last season, with three of those coming in the Premier League. Rodon is highly thought of by head coach Antonio Conte but he simply cannot go a third season with limited football as he is at a crucial stage in his development where he needs to be playing week in, week out.
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Asked about Rodon's impending exit when speaking in his press conference ahead of the Roma game, Conte made it clear that the need for playing time ahead of the World Cup was a huge factor behind the club's decision.
"Yeah Joe Rodon is another good player and don't forget that in November there is the World Cup and many players want to play and play regularly. Also to prepare themselves for this important competition," he said. "I think that when the thoughts from the club and the players are the same we try to find the best solution for both."
A move to a fellow Premier League team would have done the player the world of good and given him that top-flight experience he requires but there are also many positives to moving to Rennes. First of all, Les Rennais have been challenging towards the top of Ligue 1 in recent seasons and will be looking to do the same this campaign.
Their fourth-place finish in 2021/22 means that they will compete in the Europa League this time around, having faced Tottenham in the Europa Conference League one year ago. Regular European football against some top sides will only help Rodon's game, as will testing himself against the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe when they face PSG later in the term.
Another big plus point for the player is that a number of clubs have been keeping close tabs on Rennes in recent years and subsequently splashed the cash to sign their most exciting stars. Current Barcelona ace Ousmane Dembele started his career at Roazhon Park and made the move to Borussia Dortmund in 2016, before leaving for the Camp Nou one year later in an eye-watering £97million deal which had the potential to become £135.5m in total.
The most recent high-profile exit from the French club saw Eduardo Camavinga clinch a move to Real Madrid last summer after making a huge impression in Ligue 1 and on the international stage. This week even saw Bayern Munich snap up another of Rennes' promising youngsters as Mathys Tel made the move to the Allianz Arena after only 10 senior appearances for the club.
Numerous players have also departed Rennes for the Premier League, including Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ismaila Sarr, Edouard Mendy and Raphinha. Last month, West Ham signed centre-back Nayef Aguerd from Rennes for £30m, thus leaving a hole at the back that Rodon can instantly fill.
Current Rennes stars Martin Terrier, Jeremy Doku and Kamaldeen Sulemana have all been linked with moves to the Premier League recently, and you can guarantee that plenty more players will be in the headlines in the future. Rodon's switch is one that suits him down to the ground and a year in France could be really beneficial to his game.
The purchase option will be a no-brainer for Les Rennais if the Welshman is a huge success in France, especially given the previous examples of their players sealing big-money moves to other European clubs. If for whatever reason they don't activate the option, then Tottenham will have a call to make over Rodon next summer.
The loan deal could just be what he needs to demonstrate to Conte that he has a big part to play for Tottenham down the line, or it could simply see a number of clubs make their move for the player and increase his transfer value as a result if he is to be sold. While nobody knows what is going to happen a year from now, the next 12 months are vital in Rodon's career after limited football since his switch to north London.
A player with all the attributes to be a top defender in the game, a switch to Rennes really could be the making of him.
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