German newspaper BILD claim Leeds United have tabled an offer to sign Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka – with Leeds outbidding Stuttgart to the land 19-time Japan man for a fee north of £2.3m.
Tanaka has impressed in Germany over the last couple of years. Starring for J-League side Kawasaki Frontale and having a hand in 19 goals in his 94 games. He has since joined Dusseldorf, initially on loan.
He joined in the summer of 2021, and has gone on to play 59 times in more of a deep-lying playmaker role. Leeds have been linked with a number of central midfielders, like Nadiem Amiri and Glen Kamara.
But Takana is the latest name to be linked with a move to Leeds. With Dusseldorf staying in the second tier, he will surely want a move. Stuttgart have tabled an offer to sign Tanaka worth a small-ish £2.3m.
The report says Dusseldorf have rejected that deal. But the report also claims that Leeds have made a bid for the Japan midfielder – and that Tanaka could be on his way to Leeds in the next few days.
Leeds table offer to sign Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Tanaka
Leeds obviously need a midfielder having lost Marc Roca, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Adam Forshaw from last season. Ethan Ampadu has arrived in midfield, but that is it in the middle of the park.
Tanaka is clearly an impressive player at this early stage in his career – already playing 19 times for his nation. Leeds just need bodies in midfield at this stage and Tanaka, at such a low price, might be ideal.
