Leeds United are interested in raiding a German club to sign a midfielder and it is being claimed that he has now played his last game for his current side ahead of the summer.
The 49ers are expected to be busy in the summer window with plenty of players likely to depart, meaning Daniel Farke and the recruitment staff will have to find replacements while maintaining a healthy profit.
Reports of the club owing £190m in player transfers have surfaced and while the sales of Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra, as well as second-year parachute payments can help pay that, there will need to be more.
The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Willy Gnonto have been linked with summer moves so far. But Ethan Ampadu has told Leeds fans that he will be at the club come the start of next season.
Ilia Gruev has been linked with a move to Dortmund having already rejected a bid from a Premier League club and the Bulgarian’s exit would leave a gaping hole in midfield, one that would require replacing.
Leeds target has played his last game for club, will cost £3m
A midfielder that could be brought in as a replacement is Japan star Ao Tanaka. The Dusseldorf talent saw his side lose out in the second-tier Bundesliga play-offs last month, and is now ready to leave the club.
Bild report that 26-year-old Tanaka is ready to leave Dusseldorf with Germany’s second tier far below the standard of a regular Japan international that captained his country during the 2023-24 campaign.
They claim that Dusseldorf are resigned to losing their star midfielder and will accept bids of £3m. A year after the German side rejected a £3.2m bid from Leeds to lure the versatile “leader” to Elland Road.
Tanaka is a solid signing and Jude Bellingham comparisons
One thing Leeds lacked during the 2023-24 campaign was goals from midfield. Ampadu got two, a brace in The FA Cup while Glen Kamara failed to score. Archie Gray got one deflected effort against Leicester.
Gruev scored a crucial goal against Norwich in the play-off semi-finals but that was his only effort. Two league goals between our four central midfielders is not enough and that would change with Tanaka.
Technically excellent but superb in terms of stamina in order to get back and defend, he had a hand in 12 goals last season. He was likened to Jude Bellingham in 2022 by the Bundesliga’s official website.