Leeds United needed a new midfielder at the end of August and signed View from Fortuna Dusseldorf late in the window, but he has not disappointed.
When the club had to transfer Archie Gray to Tottenham at the start of July, just as he was about to become an Elland Road star, it appeared to be a disaster.
Replacing someone of generational quality while also releasing Glen Kamara, another key component in last season’s 90-point campaign, appeared to be a tough order for Leeds to complete.
Ao Tanaka is proving to be a bargain at £2.95 million.
Leeds signed Ao Tanaka for £2.95 million, joining loanee Joe Rothwell.
Tanaka was signed from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the 2.Bundesliga, and the majority of fans who hadn’t seen him play were unimpressed, which is understandable given his previous club.
However, he is proving to be an outstanding recruit for Leeds, as evidenced by his squad rating in a number of FBRef figures, which we posted on social media:
Tanaka is demonstrating that he’s a Premier League player in waiting for Leeds.
Tanaka, who dominated the win over Sheffield United alongside Rothwell, performed even better against Watford.
The circumstances of his performance on Tuesday highlighted why Tanaka is destined for the Premier League or any other major league, as those around him lacked the same synergy that they exhibited against the Blades.
Tanaka’s presence in and out of possession was consistent for Leeds, demonstrating the poise required to guide the team through difficult periods of the game, dropping a shoulder to elude pressure, and rarely (if ever) making a bad decision with the ball.
Tanaka was effective whether in his own penalty area, through the middle of the pitch, or on the edge of Watford’s, as evidenced by LUFCDATA’s display of his game data.
He was not only a master of possession, with 93% pass success and 10 passes into the final third, but he also won nine duels, six tackles, 12 ball recoveries, and two fouls.
He performed everything a midfielder should do, both defensively and with the ball at his feet, to the point where it’s not a stretch to suggest he’s a Premier League player based on his performances thus far.
