Leeds are in the market for a midfielder capable of playing alongside Ethan Ampadu or Ilia Gruev in the middle of the park after losing Glen Kamara, but one that is capable of contributing to the Leeds attack.
Kamara is reliable, consistent and always available but played in the role more like a no.6 than a box-to-bos option. His £8.5m exit to Rennes, along with Archie Gray’s £40m move to Tottenham, leaves a void.
Currently being linked is that of Koln’s Austria star Dejan Ljubicic with Leeds said to have made an offer. But that has been rejected, and while Leeds are expected to go back in, another has seen his price drop.
Eagle-eyed Leeds fans will remember Ao Tanaka’s name from last summer and this time around, the Japan star has been linked again. Described as a “leader”, Tanaka is in the final year of his Dusseldorf deal.
Tanaka has been constantly changing agents with an exit expected. But now, Rheinsche Post deliver an update on Tanaka’s future with the second-tier side after they failed to gain promotion via the play-offs.
The report states Dusseldorf are still open to Tanaka’s exit and will do for £2m. It comes after reports said Leeds had been told to bid £3m, but Dusseldorf are also quite keen to extend the Japan star’s deal.
Compared to Jude Bellingham, Tanaka is renowned for his lung-busting stamina that allows him to go box to box and have an impact in both. Able to play as a 6, an 8 or even as a 10, Tanaka can score goals.
Indeed, albeit in Germany’s second tier which Leeds have proven over the last week is not particularly strong, Tanaka had a hand in 12 goals last season. At £2m, he is quite the low-risk summer signing.
An international, versatile and able to find the back of the net from deep. What is not to like? As things stand, he could end up remaining at Dusseldorf but there are still five weeks left in the transfer window.
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