Daniel Farke ‘big fan’ of Ao Tanaka as Leeds United transfer update emerges
Leeds United and manager Daniel Farke are “keen” on signing midfielder Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf this summer, according to Graham Smyth.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist posted on X (27 August) to report that Daniel Farke is “a big fan” of the Japanese international, who has plied his trade in the 2. Bundesliga for the past three seasons.
Farke reportedly sees the 25-year-old, who could jet into the UK on Tuesday night [Daily Mail] as a midfield replacement after Glen Kamara’s move to Rennes, with Smyth noting that Tanaka has more of an attacking profile than the departed Finland international.
The Whites continued their flurry of late transfer business as the window nears a close, confirming the season-long loan signing of Israel winger Manor Solomon from Tottenham on 27 August.
Midfield matters for Leeds United as transfer deadline looms
With Largie Ramazani and now Solomon through the Elland Road doors as wide, attacking replacements for Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, Farke is now looking to bolster his options in midfield.
While the likes of Freiburg forward Roland Sallai remain in Farke’s sights [Graham Smyth, 27 August], the German is aiming high when it comes to bringing in players to take the Whites back to the promised land of the Premier League.
A £13million bid has already been knocked back for Gustavo Hamer by Sheffield United, who are demanding a record-breaking Championship transfer fee in order to sell their midfield talisman [Alan Nixon, 27 August].
Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Philip Billing is also a name on Farke’s list of transfer targets [Nixon, 27 August], but the Peacocks are far from the only second-tier side keen on signing the Denmark international.
Looking further afield to Germany’s second tier will likely prove to be much less costly for the Whites as the transfer deadline creeps closer, and at 25, Tanaka could end up being a better long-term investment.
In other Leeds United news, Farke has issued an update on Patrick Bamford’s availability for the day after the window shuts.
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