Leeds United
Daniel Farke and Ao Tanaka (Credit: Imago)
Monday night was a key moment in the relegation battle for Leeds United this week. The Whites had slipped into danger after picking up just two points in their last four league games.
And before Daniel Farke’s men faced Manchester United, West Ham and Nottingham Forest got some points on the board. So there was a lot of pressure before the game. But Leeds surprised everyone and put in a thrilling first half performance, scoring twice with Noah Okafor responsible for both goals. The two-goal advantage proved to be enough as the Whites saw out the second half to win 2-1.
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Leeds United star’s future is uncertain
Leeds United’s dominance in the first 45 minutes of the game was largely due to the performance of the midfield duo. Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka were unplayable on the night. Tanaka especially, did not put a foot wrong after making his first league start in months; he earned plaudits from Jamie Carragher after the game.
The Japanese international has been in the news over the last week. Many reports have suggested that he has an eye on leaving Elland Road in the summer. Nothing has been confirmed, but it is believed that the 49ers could sell if the bid is right. Discussions around Tanaka seem to have changed after his performance this week, with some having hope that he will remain at the club.
But Pete O’Rourke said on Football Insider that the midfielder could push to leave Leeds United if Daniel Farke cannot guarantee him playing time next season. The 27-year old has played just 26 games this season, far less than how frequent he played last year.
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49ers must take stance on Ao Tanaka’s future
Manchester United have been credited with interest in Ao Tanaka, and some German clubs are keen on bringing him back to the Bundesliga. He has interest from across Europe which could tempt him away this summer. Daniel Farke and the 49ers must decide if the midfielder is key to their plans beyond this season, and based on that, decide what happens in the summer. They can easily make a profit on him after signing him for £3.3 million ahead of last season. But looking at how the Japanese international has played in recent games, he could be a key fixture in the midfield if given the chance. A big decision lies ahead of the club in the coming months.