Ethan Ampadu delivers plea to Leeds pal Joe Rodon over his future

ETHAN AMPADU will pull out all the stops to persuade close pal Joe Rodon to stay at Leeds beyond this summer.

Rodon, 26, is on a season-long loan with the Premier League chasing Whites from Tottenham.

Rex

Ampadu and Rodon have helped Leeds into the automatic promotion places ahead of the Easter Monday clash with Hull[/caption]

AFP

Rodon is having a great season at Leeds on loan from Tottenham after spending last season at Ligue 1 club Rennes[/caption]

If Leeds, second in the Championship after the 2-2 draw with Watford on Friday night, clinch promotion back to the top-flight then Spurs could offload the centre-back in a £10m+ deal.

But Wales and Leeds team-mate Ampadu will be telling Rodon to stay in Yorkshire regardless of where they finish in the second tier.

Ampadu said: “I’ll be pressuring him. He knows that.

“A lot of Leeds fans enjoyed it when I commented on one of his Instagram photos one time.

“I haven’t done it in a while. But we are all telling him to stay.

“Everyone knows how much we appreciate him and what he has done this year.”

Rodon himself has tried to play down the transfer talk, insisting he will sort his future at the end of the season.

The Wales centre-back said: “I don’t really look into that. All I can control is now. I’ll give everything for Leeds.”

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Rodon joined Spurs from Swansea in 2020 for an initial £11m deal rising to £15m under Jose Mourinho.

But the defender, who is out of contract in the summer of 2025, failed to win a regular place at Tottenham.

And Leeds is his second loan spell in as many seasons after a stint at Ligue 1 club Rennes last term.

Rodon has had the best campaign of his career with the fixture at Vicarage his 46th outing of the season for club and country.

He suffered the cruel heartbreak of Wales’ Euro 2024 play-off final penalty shootout loss to Poland last Tuesday.

But Rodon, who won his 44th cap, produced another outstanding display and helped to keep Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski quiet in the goalless draw after 120 minutes in Cardiff.

Rodon added: “It’s the most I’ve played. Over the last couple of years it’s been sticky and I’ve not had the game time I’ve wanted.

“So this has been the most important season so far.

“It’s gone quick but playing every week has only given me more confidence as a player. 

“But the job is not finished yet. The season isn’t done.

“It’s always nice when things are going well. It’s the best I’ve felt in a long time.

“The Leeds fans have been incredible with me. Even the away games they’ve been great.”