Potter targeting Tottenham outcast as Brighton seek alternative for Newcastle-bound star

Brighton are reportedly looking at a move for Tottenham defender Joe Rodon as Newcastle close in on the signature of Seagulls centre-back Dan Burn.

Magpies chief Eddie Howe has made no secret of his desire to sign a central defender during the current transfer window. The former Bournemouth boss has already brought in full-back Kieran Trippier and striker Chris Wood. And the north-east outfit have been linked with many centre-halves this month.

Diego Carlos, Sven Botman and James Tarkowski have all been on the radar. But the Tynesiders failed to land any of the trio and have turned their attention to the south coast.

It emerged on Wednesday that Newcastle had already bid £8m for the 29-year-old rangy stopper. That was rejected by Brighton but it seems as though Howe is confident of bringing in further additions late in the month.

“We are hopeful of getting closer to completing a transfer for a player,” he said on Friday. “From my perspective, I don’t imagine that would be the end. Whether that turns into reality, who knows.

“Things change very late in this window as everybody knows, it can be quite unpredictable in the last couple of days, with lots of things maybe happening that we didn’t expect.”

Brighton manager Graham Potter is wasting little time in looking for someone to fill the possible void, per football.london. Rodon has become a peripheral figure at Spurs since moving to the club in October 2020.

He was handed a five-year deal but has seen little action, with eight starts among 12 top-flight outings in 2020-2021. And the Wales international has played only 78 minutes of league football from one start this term.

Rodon, 24, is a regular for the Wales national side. But it will be tough for manager Robert Page to