A loan move is good for Rodon, is it good for Tottenham Hotspur too?

With an imbalanced squad requiring several outbound moves, the loan of Joe Rodon is unsurprising and good for the Welshman, but is it good for Tottenham Hotspur?

Entering the last month of the summer transfer window, with six inbound signings against only three outbound sales, Spurs need to move some players. Deals had to come with several excess midfielders and maybe a fullback or even two surpluses to requirements.

Ultimately, like any commodity market, you can only move what people want to buy, so Joe Rodon is on the move. While the loan – with an option to purchase – to Stade Rennais is suitable for Rodon, it may or may not be good for Spurs.

Rodon needs the opportunity Rennais should provide

Like most players that go from one club to the next, a significant factor is the opportunity to play. Initially a late window signing under Jose Mourinho in October 2020, Rodon never got his Tottenham career on track.

Rodon has made only 15 league appearances for 815 minutes in the last two seasons, according to transfermarkt.com. Rodon made 24 appearances in all competitions, starting 14 times, and playing ~1,340 minutes for Spurs.

As a point of comparison, during the same period, Rodon featured 25 times, playing over 2,100 minutes for Wales, according to fbref.com. Playing for Wales makes this an incredibly significant move for Rodon, who wants to keep his place heading into the winter World Cup.

Ultimately, for Rodon, it is the opportunity to play that he needs, which Rennais should provide. Besides the Ligue 1 season, the club is also in the UEFA Europa League, providing more games for Rodon to hone his craft and ensure his trip to Qatar.

So while the move is good for Rodon, is it good for Tottenham too?

Tottenham still needs depth in defense

Sure getting the minutes to secure his place with Wales at the World Cup, and frankly, his footballing future is what is in Rodon’s best interest. The minutes he should get at the Ligue 1 outfit was unlikely to come at N17; however, loaning Rodon does not come without cost.

Before the transfer window started, Tottenham was looking for depth at center-half. Although Spurs have signed Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona, the French defender is not the marque signing most fans expected in defense.

With Rodon now gone and fellow defender Japhet Tanganga seemingly on his way out – although reports are his loan to AC Milan has failed – Tottenham could end up short defenders.

Nevertheless, even when the team was thin last season, Antonio Conte rarely turned to Rodon, and that did not look to be changing this season. A solid defender, Rodon does not have the confidence on the ball that Cristian Romero and Conte desires.

Much like with the transfer of Steven Bergwijn to open up space for Richarlison, moving Rodon may ultimately make sense for Tottenham, assuming some coverage comes behind him. Five defenders for three positions across four competitions will not be enough for the season ahead.

Thus if Rodon’s move is followed by new depth Conte trusts, then Joe’s loan is a good move for the club. However, if there is not another defender incoming and Spurs get an injury or two in the back, this may be a move the club comes to regret. Only time will tell, which is all Rodon ever wanted and Tottenham could not provide.