Leeds United summer transfer target Ao Tanaka has an ‘agreement’ with Fortuna Dusseldorf than he can leave in January.
Leeds are said to tabled an offer of £3.2 million in August to sign the 25-year-old, but a deal never materialised as it was below the valuation of the German club.
Following Fortuna’s relegation to Bundesliga 2, Tanaka was keen to make the move to Elland Road but at the same time, Leeds were not entirely convinced he was the right signing.
Now, according to Express, Tanaka has been told that Fortuna will not stand in his way of a January exit providing an offer that meets their asking price arrives.
The Japan international is keen to move to a side that can offer him top-flight football, and while Leeds could not do that in the summer, the Championship is of a higher standard than Bundesliga 2.
Kamara has really hit the ground running since his late summer arrival at Leeds, while Gruev is still really waiting for a proper opportunity in the starting XI.
Leeds unlikely to return for Tanaka
Instead, Leeds completed late deals to sign Ilia Gruev from Werder Bremen, and Glen Kamara from Rangers, which is has all but certainly ended their interest in Tanaka for good.
Kamara has really hit the ground running since his late window arrival at Leeds, while Gruev is still waiting for that proper opportunity in the starting XI.
Those two form half of an impressive array of midfield options at Daniel Farke’s disposal, with Ethan Ampadu and Archie Gray also vying for one of those spots.
With that in mind, it is almost certain that Leeds will not reignite their interest in a deal for Tanaka in January, and so he will be forced to look elsewhere.
He has four goals and one assist in 14 German second division matches so far this season, while his form for Japan may also mean he is not short of suitors.
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