The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that Leeds United have agreed to sign Ao Tanaka, and his arrival would be revealed at lunchtime on Transfer Deadline Day.
According to Graham Smyth on the paper’s website on August 30, the Japanese international’s £3.3 million transfer was finalized the previous evening, with a physical already completed.
The 25-year-old is claimed to be a Daniel Farke “favourite” who “ticks a key box” as the German tries to give his midfield a more offensive edge this summer.
Tanaka joins Bournemouth loanee Joe Rothwell as summer recruits to the position, with both considered statistically similar.
Leeds United also signed Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth.
As much as the quartet of Archie Gray and summer arrivals Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Glen Kamara provided a good response to the exodus from midfield following relegation, none of them posed a significant goal threat.
Farke is clearly hoping that their successors can change that, especially now that Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter have both left.
Although key players have left Elland Road this summer, it should not be forgotten that the previous season ended in failure with a defeat to Southampton in the Play-Off final.
The 49ers haven’t given the image of being aggressive in the transfer market, with so much business left to the closing days after exit clauses were regularly activated in the team.
However, with Tanaka joining Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon as late arrivals, and more perhaps on their way before 11 p.m., they are doing an excellent job of saving the situation as it stands.
Isaac Schmidt is being flown over from Switzerland on Deadline Day [Smyth, 29 August] and should arrive before the window closes.
