Ao Tanaka exit from Leeds United on the cards already
Leeds United will lose Ao Tanaka next summer if the club fail to reach the Premier League, David Norris has predicted.
The former Whites midfielder, speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, affirmed there is no threat of Tanaka leaving Elland Road in January, having arrived in the summer knowing the task at hand in the Championship.
The Japan international has been an ever-present on the pitch for his club ever since 1 October, and has impressed fans and Daniel Farke alike with his seamless replacement of Ethan Ampadu, who recently made his return from injury.
But Norris thinks Leeds will have a hard job retaining the 26-year-old if they do not achieve their aim of returning to the top flight this season.
“Tanaka has been flawless. I don’t see him going now because of the contract he’s on and the fact he only joined in the summer, but of course he’ll have admirers,” Norris said.
“He’s going to be key to Leeds’ promotion bid with the form he’s in. It’s the summer when they need to worry about players of his quality, if they don’t go up. If that’s the case, I think they’ll lose him at the end of the season.”
Leeds United not looking to sell in January
Leeds United entered this Championship season with the smallest first-team squad in the division and the end of the summer window felt somewhat incomplete.
The club are expected to bulk out their roster in January having already brought in Josuha Guilavogui outside the transfer window as a free agent.
The only player who has been heavily linked with a winter exit is Joe Gelhardt, who has found opportunities very hard to come by in 2024-25.
In other Leeds news, a potential signing who could seal promotion this season.
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