'I shouldn't say this' Manager's transfer comment about Leeds United star underlines hope

Wales manager Craig Bellamy is enjoying working with Leeds United star Joe Rodon and has now revealed he could have been doing it much sooner if his former club had got their way. Rodon is away with the Wales squad once again as they conclude their National League campaign, with the defender hoping to impress as he has done in a Leeds shirt.

The centre-back, who signed permanently this summer after spending last year at Elland Road on loan, has been an ever-present for Daniel Farke's side so far this campaign. Rodon's presence has helped Leeds set an impressive figure of just nine goals conceded in 15 Championship games, all of which the Welsh international and former Tottenham Hotspur man has started.

After his move to Tottenham Rodon struggled to make his mark in the Spurs side and was loaned out to Rennes, before a season-long loan deal with Leeds followed. Bellamy has now revealed Burnley were also very interested in signing the defender before Leeds pounced, along with a number of other clubs.

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Bellamy said; “I probably shouldn’t say this, but I remember that even when I was at Burnley, we wanted him. So he’s a player where a lot of clubs would love in terms of profile.”

Rodon played the full 90 minutes of the League B Group 4 clash with Turkey on Saturday, adding to his tally of clean sheets for the season. He'll expect to feature again this evening at home to Iceland, with a victory potentially enough for Wales to earn promotion to the elite A Group as group winners, while they need to avoid defeat to ensure they are at worst in a play-off to move back up to the elite group.

Rodon will then return to Leeds with a reunion with former club Swansea City awaiting this Sunday. Leeds are in a strong place in the play-off race and the hope is the defensive solidity Rodon has helped build can take the side all the way to promotion, with the player once again underlining why he was so sought-after.