Leeds United are keen on signing Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka before the summer transfer window shuts on Friday night and could get him for slightly below €4 million, according to German outlet Bild.
It is not the first time the Elland Road club have been linked with the 25-year-old Japan international, but things appear serious this time out.
Leeds contacted the Fortuna bosses via email last summer to make enquiries on what it would take to sign Tanaka, but they did not follow up their interest with a bid or further talks.
The 2. Bundesliga club did not hear from the Whites again until recently, and a move to England could appeal to the Japanese, who is out of contract next summer.
Bild claims “he might be heading to England after all” after a move to join Leeds did not come close to materialising a year ago.
The defensive midfielder ended 2023-24 with seven goals and three assists in 30 league games, with Fortuna missing out on Bundesliga promotion after finishing third and losing the play-offs to VfL Bochum.
Tanaka has spent three seasons with the German second-division club since joining them in 2021 from Japanese top-flight club Kawasaki Frontale, and failure to get promoted with them could have left him frustrated.
Leeds are offering him the chance to play in the Premier League as manager Daniel Farke eyes another shot at promotion after the disappointment of last season, and a move could appeal to him.
The Whites lost Finnish midfielder Glen Kamara to Rennes earlier this summer, and while they have signed Joe Rothwell, they could do with the services of Tanaka in the middle of the park.