The summer transfer window is closing in. While Leeds United do not know which division they will be in, rumours of possible signings and outgoings are already coming in.
The pressure was stacked on The 49ers and Adam Underwood last season to get things right, and with Leeds sitting in 15th with seven Premier League games to go, it is easy to argue that it has gone to plan.
But a new window is approaching and the pressure is just as big on Leeds to get things right, as Daniel Farke’s men look to consolidate themselves in the Premier League. Ao Tanaka is one possible casualty.
Reports from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg suggest Leeds could cash in on Tanaka for around £8m. It would be a poor reflection of how Leeds value one of their most important players from promotion.
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But even more concerning, is that Plettenberg reports Tanaka wants to join a Premier League club. If Leeds allow the midfielder to join a rival for a fee far below his worth, it is a terrible deal.
Ao Tanaka’s impact at Leeds United cannot be ignored
Leeds signed Tanaka for roughly £2.9m from second-tier German side Dusseldorf, a fee widely viewed as a bargain. What followed only reinforced that. Farke says he tried to sign Tanaka 12 months beforehand.
He scored five league goals, earned Player of the Year honours, and was named in the Championship Team of the Season. More importantly, he was one of the driving forces behind promotion.
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This is the level Leeds would be selling from. Not potential, not promise, but proven output over a full season. This season tells a very different story in terms of usage.
Tanaka has made around 21 Premier League appearances, but only seven of those have been starts. His total minutes sit at roughly 700 to 760, a sharp drop from the consistent starting role he held last season.
Ao Tanaka
Photo by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
He has also been described as “unhappy” amid that reduced role, with German clubs monitoring his situation. Union Berlin, Schalke and Hannover are all supposedly keeping tabs on the Japan midfielder.
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The key point is, Ao Tanaka is worth far more than £8m
Even with fewer minutes, his output has not collapsed. He has still scored twice in the league, and when adjusted for minutes played, his contribution remains competitive. Still delivering in the biggest moments
What stands out most is when Tanaka delivers. He scored against Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League this season, two of the strongest sides. Those are not routine fixtures or low-pressure situations.
He has also made his mark in the cup, including a goal in a tie involving West Ham. These are decisive contributions against high-level opposition, not padded stats against weaker sides.
That matters when judging value. Leeds are not dealing with a player who fades in big games. They are dealing with one who steps up. £8m does not reflect his value, it should be at least double that.
Leeds would be turning a £2.9m signing into an £8m sale. On paper, that is profit. In context, it is modest for a player who has delivered a promotion campaign, individual honours, and continued impact.
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It would be one of The 49ers’ most embarrassing deals
Selling to a Premier League rival only adds to that perception. It is one thing to move a player on. It is another to strengthen a domestic competitor for a fee that does not match the player’s contribution.
Tanaka’s trajectory is clear. He arrived as a bargain, became a promotion hero, and has still produced big moments despite limited opportunities this season. That is not the profile of an £8m player.
If Leeds choose to sell, the fee must reflect his impact, his consistency, and his ability to influence games at a high level. Anything less, especially to a Premier League rival, risks looking like poor business.
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