Leeds United are looking to add to their midfield ranks this week but Ao Tanaka will not be joining the club
Daniel Farke is still pushing hard to add to his Leeds United squad, but it seems a move for Ao Tanaka is now off the table. Leeds United had identified Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Tanaka as a potential option this summer as they look to add to their midfield ranks before tomorrow night’s deadline.
Tanaka only joined Dusseldorf permanently last summer but he was said to be keen on a move to Elland Road, with reports in Germany suggesting the Japan international had expressed his willingness to leave the club. However, doubt was created earlier this week as it emerged the 24-year-old had picked up an injury and a report in Rheinische Post, as per Sport Witness, insists Leeds have moved onto other targets.
The report claims Farke is still an admirer of Tanaka, but after conversations at Elland Road, the decision has been made as a club to push on with other interests as they enter the final day and a half of the window. As such, as it stands, it seems the midfielder could be staying put in the German second tier.
Leeds have already signed Ethan Ampadu to play in the middle this season, but having seen a host of senior midfielders leave this summer, in Marc Roca, Adam Forshaw and Tyler Adams, they still find themselves short of experience in the middle of the park. As such, with the deadline approaching, Leeds are pushing hard to add to their numbers in central midfield.
According to Phil Hay of the Athletic, Werder Bremen’s Bulgaria international Ilia Gruev is set to travel to West Yorkshire to undergo a medical before completing a switch to Leeds, while the club still carry interest in a number of other targets.
Matt O’Riley of Celtic and Rangers’ Glen Kamara are known to be targets, while Kenny McLean of Norwich City has also been linked with a switch to join Farke at Elland Road. Leeds won’t be signing Lewis O’Brien, though, with the Nottingham Forest man completing a season-long loan move to Middlesbrough, who have also snapped up versatile Leeds youngster Sam Greenwood on a season-long loan.