Credit: Tung Manh Phan

Mark Smith

Thu 30 April 2026 8:10, UK

Ao Tanaka has been central to transfer speculation at Leeds United for months now.

After a quick start to the season at Elland Road, the Japanese international was reduced to a bit-part role off the bench, if used at all.

But in recent weeks, that has all changed.

Anton Stach and Ilia Gruev both picked up injuries, and Daniel Farke turned to what he knows by placing Tanaka at the side of Ethan Ampadu.

That hasn’t made transfer rumours disappear, with interest said to be growing in the midfielder as Leeds enter their final four games of the season.

A win against Burnley would likely be enough to survive, with transfer plans now taking place in LS11.

Who wants Ao Tanaka?

Tanaka hasn’t looked back since making his first Premier League start since December in that 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Before that, it was said that Leeds could sell Tanaka for as little as £8million this summer.

It was said that he would prefer to stay in England and the Premier League, but does also have interest from SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga.

For the sake of everybody at Elland Road, that is surely nowhere near the truth.

If it was, there would be riots from the home support against, Farke, the 49ers Enterprises and everyone at boardroom level, that is for sure.

Hidemasa Morita to help Leeds keep Ao Tanaka

Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita has been linked with a move to Leeds for months, now.

It had seemingly gone quiet on that front as the Whites battled to survive in the Premier League, but on Tuesday, those links resurfaced.

The Daily Mail reports that the out-of-contract Morita has commited to join Leeds, based on the condition that they remain in the top flight.

Farke and Leeds may be days away from doing that, and on a free transfer, they would be getting a 40-cap international with the ever-growing Japan.

Not only that, but Tanaka would surely love and welcome that move too alongside him in midfield.

The former Dusseldorf man doesn’t speak incredible English, and having someone that he has also played club football with before back in Japan, would certainly help him further.

Tanaka has been sensational in his two years at Elland Road, and that simply has to continue, with a new contract alongside the signing of Morita surely making perfect sense.