Leeds United have approached Fortuna Dusseldorf with an enquiry about midfielder Ao Tanaka, according to Sports Hochi.
The Japanese news outlet reported online (29 May) that there is expected to be a bidding war for the Japan international.
Leeds, as well as Everton, Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Mainz, are all interested in Tanaka.
Following Duesseldorf’s failure to be promoted to the Bundesliga, the 25-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, is “increasingly likely” to leave the club this summer.
Daniel Farke could benefit from the arrival of Ao Tanaka at Leeds United
This isn’t the first time the Whites have been linked with a move for Tanaka.
He is a player who has clearly been of interest to the club for some time now, and for good reason too.
Tanaka boasted some very impressive passing numbers during the 2023/24 season.
He ranked 14th overall in the Bundesliga 2 with a passing accuracy of 89.6 per cent (Bundesliga Official Website).
And if that wasn’t impressive enough, the midfielder has drawn comparisons to one of European football’s biggest names.
In a profile piece on the player via the Bundesliga official website (5 December 2022), Tanaka was compared to Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
And Farke will already be well aware of the player’s quality.
Tanaka was one of just three Bundesliga 2 players to feature at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a tournament where he would write his name in Japanese history.
The midfielder scored the winning goal against Spain in a 2-1 victory (1 December 2022) which booked Japan their place in the Round of 16 ahead of Germany.
If the Whites were to pull off this signing, it would certainly represent an exciting coup at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, one player has made his desire to leave Elland Road clear.
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