Ao Tanaka is reportedly open to leaving Leeds United this summer.
An immensely popular figure at Elland Road, Tanaka has proven to be a bargain buy since arriving from Fortuna Dusseldorf for a reported £2.9m in 2024.
It has since been a bumpy road for Tanaka, who has struggled to nail down a spot in Daniel Farke’s Premier League XI.
Ao Tanaka was on target in Leeds United's FA Cup win over West Ham United.placeholder image
Ao Tanaka was on target in Leeds United's FA Cup win over West Ham United. | Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Ao Tanaka ‘open’ to Leeds United departure
According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Tanaka is open to the idea of seeking pastures new at the end of the season.
It has been suggested he could move for a fee in the region of €10-12m (£7.8m-£9.6m).
Posting on X, Plettenberg said: “Ao Tanaka is open to leaving Leeds this summer. He is currently leaning towards a move within the Premier League. Freiburg are also interested, although they are not his priority. If LUFC are willing to let him go, a potential fee could be in the region of €10-12m.”
Ao Tanaka’s struggle for minutes at Leeds United
Tanaka was handed a start last weekend and opened the scoring in stylish fashion as the Whites knocked West Ham United out of the FA Cup.
Ao Tanaka has been afforded just seven Premier League starts this season.placeholder image
Ao Tanaka has been afforded just seven Premier League starts this season. | Martin Rickett/PA Wire
It would undoubtedly be a shame to see Tanaka move on given the impact he made in such a short period after joining the club.
Back when he delivered a man-of-the-match performance in the season opener against Everton, few could have envisaged the Japan international struggling for minutes in the manner he has.
He said: “I feel like it's a difficult league, isn't it? I feel like there's not many people that come out of pure obscurity, sign for a club in the Championship and then go on to do incredibly well in the Premier League.
“But he's chipped in at vital moments, the goal against Liverpool. He's probably the one that's got something a little bit different. We've got such a working workmanlike central midfield.
There has been talk of a Leeds United exit for Ao Tanaka.placeholder image
There has been talk of a Leeds United exit for Ao Tanaka. | Jacob King/PA Wire
“He's kind of the only one that might give us a little bit of something else, but you can't always fit those people in your team either.
“There's a right time to play him and a right time not to. It's one of those where it's easy when you watch him, we're all experts going, ‘should do this, should do that’.
“But the difficulty is being able to go and produce that when you're relatively new to a league as well.”