Cooper rubbishes Man Utd interest in Swansea ace but leaves fee hint

Swansea boss Steve Cooper has insisted that there has been no official interest in Joe Rodon, following reports that Manchester United are keeping an eye on the defender.

Rodon broke through to the Swans’ first team last season and has impressed in the past season-and-a-half despite suffering metatarsal and ankle injuries.

Reports surfaced earlier this month suggesting that Swansea are expecting “major Premier League interest” – including from United – in Rodon when the transfer window re-opens.

However, speaking to BBC Sport, Cooper shot down such talk and said that Rodon and Swansea’s other talent will not be sold on the cheap if interest does materialise.

“Joe is an outstanding player and just as good a person as well,” the manager said. “But there hasn’t been any interest at the moment and I know he is a talking point and somebody tells me he is in the papers.

“But there has been absolutely nothing official going on and on that front, the whole market is going to be interesting how that turns out because I don’t think here will be loads of players bought with fees.

“But no, there is nothing to do with Joe and I don’t think the chairman will be selling anyone on the cheap, that’s for sure because we have got a good few assets at the club and we don’t want to lose them – I don’t anyway!”

Wales international Rodon, who has two caps for his country having made his debut in September, is a good friend of compatriot Daniel James, who also progressed through the Swansea ranks before leaving for United.

The earlier reports suggested that Rodon would be excited about moving to Old Trafford after seeing James progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Solskjaer is being linked with an overhaul of his defence, with the futures of Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones unclear.

In other news, United have reportedly been in touch with the agent of former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

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