Leeds have found perfect Ao Tanaka upgrade as £17.6m price tag is set
Leeds United may be on the verge of a massive upgrade on Ao Tanaka as Gabriel Sara looks to leave Galatasaray.
Since moving to the Premier League, Tanaka has struggled at Leeds and has been used sparingly by Daniel Farke.
This has brought into question Tanaka’s long-term future at Elland Road, especially with the World Cup around the corner.
However, Farke may have a chance to secure an ideal upgrade in Sara.
Gabriel Sara outperforms Ao Tanaka in multiple stats
Sara has long been linked with a move to Leeds United, with strong rumours circulating in the summer.
The midfielder previously played at Norwich and is currently at Galatasaray.
Now, reports have emerged that Sara wants to leave Galatasaray, with the Turkish club willing to accept around £17.6million for the 26-year-old.
If Leeds are able to finally bring the midfielder to Elland Road, he would be a significant upgrade on Tanaka.
According to Fotmob on 21 November, the two stars’ stats are extremely contrasting, with Sara beating Tanaka in the majority.
| Stats this season in the league per 90 minutes | Gabriel Sara | Ao Tanaka |
| Goals | 0.12 | 0.00 |
| Shots | 1.79 | 0.84 |
| Assists | 0.24 | 0.00 |
| Expected assists | 0.44 | 0.03 |
| Chances created | 3.58 | 1.12 |
| Tackles | 2.15 | 0.56 |
| Possession won in final third | 0.60 | 0.56 |
While the Premier League is much harder than the Turkish Super Lig, Sara’s stats are still excellent.
Therefore, bringing in the Galatasaray star should be a no-brainer for the West Yorkshire club.
Don Goodman: Sara was one of the best players in the Championship
Before his move to Turkey, Sara was an excellent player at Norwich.
In the Championship, the midfielder often dominated games and was unfortunate not to ever win promotion to the Premier League.
His loss at Carrow Road has no doubt been a big loss, with the East Anglian side not mounting a promotion push since.
Talking about his departure on 10 August 2024, Don Goodman spoke to Football League World and labelled Sara as one of the best in the second tier.
He said: “It’s a huge blow. Gabriel Sara was one of the best players in the league, there’s no doubt about that.”
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Leeds United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@motleedsnews