Leeds United have tied up a deal to sign Ao Tanaka and his arrival will be announced around midday on Transfer Deadline Day, the Yorkshire Evening Post report.
According to Graham Smyth on the paper’s website on 30 August the Japanese international’s £3.3million move was wrapped up the previous evening, with a medical already completed.
The 25-year-old is said to be a Daniel Farke “favourite” and “ticks a key box” as the German looks to give the midfield a greater attacking edge this summer.
Tanaka joins Bournemouth loanee Joe Rothwell as summer additions at the position, with both seen as statistically similar.
Leeds United also added Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth
As much as the quartet of Archie Gray, and summer signings Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara provided a very strong solution to the exodus from midfield after relegation there was little in the way of goal threat from any.
With two of the four gone Farke is clearly hoping their replacements can change that, especially with Crysencio Summerville’s goals and Georginio Rutter’s assists also having departed.
Although key men have departed Elland Road this summer it can’t be overlooked that the previous campaign ultimately ended in failure with defeat to Southampton in the Play-Off final.
The 49ers haven’t given the impression of working proactively in the transfer market with so much of the business left until the final days after exit clauses had repeatedly been triggered in the squad.
But with Tanaka joining Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon as late arrivals, and more potentially on the way before 11pm, they are doing a solid job of rescuing the situation as things stand.
Isaac Schmidt is being flown over from Switzerland on Deadline Day as well [Smyth, 29 August] and should also be in before the window shuts.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have back-up plans in place if an attacking ace’s transfer collapses on the final day.
