Setback for all parties as Leeds United eyed Ao Tanaka summer transfer
Leeds United not signing Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka in the summer transfer window was a setback for all parties involved, according to Rheinische Post.
The German publication claims on Wednesday (6 September, Page D4) that a sale was intended by the German club and the Japan international looked like he was on his way out.
Bild also reported in August that Leeds were in talks to sign the 24-year-old but did not bring him to Elland Road.
Not too bad
Leeds needed midfielders this summer and left it fairly late to get their business done in the window.
Ethan Ampadu was brought in pretty early and he appears to have fit in perfectly into the Leeds system.
Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev were both signed closer to the deadline but they got done in time and that’s what matters to Daniel Farke.
Tanaka would’ve been good but he did not appear to be a priority target for Farke so it’s not bad news that he didn’t join.
It remains to be seen if Leeds revisit these links in January or next summer as he’s going to want to leave Germany for sure.
As of now, Leeds will perhaps want a left-back but things can change very quickly in football
In other Leeds United news, the Whites tabled multiple enquiries to sign a multi-million international winger ahead of the transfer deadline.