Swansea City legend Alan Curtis believes defender Joe Rodon is “worth a lot more” than the fee Tottenham paid the Welsh club for his services.
Spurs have signed the Wales centre-back for an initial £11m plus add-ons.
The Swans had hoped to get closer to £20m for the 22-year-old and Curtis is disappointed with the fee the Premier League club paid.
“I think £11million maybe rising to £15million is a little bit below what Joe is worth,” Curtis said.
“He’s certainly worth a lot more money than that.”
Rodon joined Jose Mourinho’s side shortly before the transfer window closed on Friday and Swans boss Steve Cooper says he was not involved in the decision to sell.
Swansea chief executive Julian Winter has said the decision to sell Rodon allowed the club to add to their squad.
“I know there are question marks over the fee we got for Joe – even though it was undisclosed – it is still a significant transfer for this club,” Winter told the club’s website.
“It has enabled the club to be more financially secure in the short to medium term, while it has allowed us to create a much deeper squad in terms of competitiveness for the league we are in.
“Joe is a great loss, a great guy with great potential and is an academy product. He’s moved to a top-six club – this is not just him moving to another club, it was a huge opportunity for him.”
Curtis, a former Swans player who filled numerous off-field roles before taking up a role as honorary club president, said he was delighted for Rodon on a personal level.
“He deserves that opportunity to go and play in the Premier League at such an iconic club like Tottenham,” Curtis told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
“But it’s obviously a blow when you lose a local player and it’s a little stab to the heart in many ways.
“Maybe the blow would have been softened a little bit if we could have eked out a little more money for him. That’s by the by now.”
Although disappointed with Rodon’s departure, Curtis has been pleased with Swansea’s incomings during the transfer window.
Swansea signed defenders Ryan Bennett and Joel Latibeaudiere, midfielder Kasey Palmer and utility player Ryan Manning on deadline day.
Curtis believes Swansea, who lost in last season’s Championship play-offs semi-finals, have a squad capable of mounting a promotion challenge.
“I think there’s a better balance about the squad now,” Curtis said.
“We’ve certainly got strength in more positions and the players who have come in, I’m sure they’re going to be fantastic acquisitions.
“We just missed out last year but I think the squad, if anything, is probably a little bit stronger this year. I feel confident we can go that little step further this year.”
(BBC Sport)
