Daniel Farke has captured '£3m steal' at Leeds after winning battle
Ao Tanaka has proven to be a "steal" for Leeds United since signing for just £3million from Fortuna Dusseldorf, according to Ian Herbert.
Writing in the Daily Mail (28 January), Herbert singled out Tanaka and Jayden Bogle as two players who "fortified and sustained" the Whites in their goalless battle against Burnley at Turf Moor on Monday.
Tanaka, a late arrival in the summer transfer window, has become of the first names on the team sheet for Daniel Farke, who personally requested the signing of the Japanese international in August.
Herbert said: "I watched those Leeds fans heading away into the night, fortified and sustained by Jayden Bogle, by the Japanese Ao Tanaka – a steal at £3million from Fortuna Dusseldorf, it’s turned out – asserting himself in a challenging midfield battle."
Ao Tanaka's stock continues to rise at Leeds United
If the unthinkable happens and another late-season collapse sees United surrender their impetus at the top of the Championship, leading into another failed play-off campaign, the vultures will gather quickly.
Many members of Farke's squad will attract bids in the transfer market, but arguably the player whom the most sides will want – and for the most money – is not Wilfried Gnonto or Daniel James, it's Tanaka.
Drafted into the team amid an injury crisis which saw Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev both struck down within a few days of one another, Tanaka's performances have ensured that the duo were hardly missed.
Such is his influence on and importance to the Whites, that with both Ampadu and Gruev now fit again, both have come in to be the plus-one alongside Tanaka in midfield, with the latter simply undroppable.
Tanaka adding goals to his game in recent weeks has only highlighted that £3m was an absolute snip for the 26-year-old, and if United do go up, expect him to take many a Premier League midfield by surprise.
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