Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Mon 23 March 2026 18:10, UK

Daniel Farke will surely love the latest on German interest in Leeds United star Ao Tanaka.

The Japanese midfielder has barely featured recently, despite starring in the Whites’ Championship promotion-winning campaign last season.

A report from TEAMtalk on 23 March claimed that Schalke and Hannover were registering interest in the Elland Road ace, while Union Berlin are showing tentative attention to his situation.

Tanaka’s fall from grace at Leeds has been very surprising, but his manager has a reason to be happy with the scenario that could pan out in the summer.

Where has it gone wrong for Ao Tanaka at Leeds?

Farke has barely selected Tanaka in Leeds’ team since the new year, as he has played just 67 Premier League minutes, per the Sofascore graphic below.

He has started in all three of the Peacocks’ FA Cup clashes, with 90 minutes against Derby County, 78 minutes against Birmingham City and 70 minutes against Norwich City.

Given his lack of game time in the league, and the fact that Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu are ahead of him in the pecking order, it seems like the boss has made up his mind on the midfielder.

Why Farke would be happy if Tanaka was sold

Farke will not necessarily miss Tanaka if he were to depart, and in fact, the German may welcome an exit for the 27-year-old.

If the Whites could sell him for more than the £3million that they signed him for, it would represent very clever business.

More importantly for Farke, it can be handed to him to reinvest in his squad in the summer, to either bolster another survival bid, or to try and get back to the top-flight.

Which one it is depends on how the LS11 side finishes the season, as they are currently four points above the relegation zone with seven matches left to play.

They thought they had unearthed a gem when they signed the former Fortuna Dusseldorf man, and he was touted as being a Premier League quality player, however, it has not worked out like that.

Right now, it seems like the best answer for all parties is to cut ties and move on, as Farke would get the funds to make new signings and the player would actually play football.