Ao Tanaka will be one of the first names on the team sheet when Leeds United go to Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon, with the Whites midfielder enjoying a brilliant first campaign in England.
Bought for just £3.4m from the second tier of German football, Tanaka was a target for Daniel Farke 12 months earlier. However, it took until deadline day in 2024 for Leeds to finally get a deal over the line.
It took Tanaka a few weeks to break into the Leeds side but as soon as he did, he has remained in the starting XI under Farke. His athleticism, passing and tackling has now been combined with his goals.
Tanaka has had a hand in five goals for Leeds, scoring a crucial second in the 3-1 win at Sheffield United. He’s got potential to win Player of the Season, but Aidy White doesn’t feel he gets the credit he deserves.
Ao Tanaka doesn’t get enough credit, according to Aidy White
The plaudits have been aplenty for Tanaka throughout the season. Nicknamed Tiger Tanaka by Farke after James Bond’s You Only Live Twice, Tanaka’s agent thinks the midfielder is ready for the Premier League.
But according to former Leeds man White, Tanaka does not actually get the credit he deserves. Speaking to The Square Ball ahead of Sunday’s trip to Portsmouth, White says Tanaka’s defending is underrated.
“That midfield partnership worked so well in the middle part of the season between him and Tanaka. They both can do it, I feel like Tanaka doesn’t get enough credit for the defensive side of his game,” he said.
“I don’t think Rothwell is quite as good as it, but that relationship between the two – they can do a bit of both. Tanaka has been sensational,” White continue, when discussing Tanaka’s form since joining Leeds.
Leeds United points per game shows Ao Tanaka’s importance
Tanaka has now started 27 Championship games for Leeds, named in the starting line-up in 27 of Leeds last 28 league games. An impressive feat given Tanaka was not at Leeds until three games into the season.
| Starting line-up… | Games | Points | Points per game |
| Tanaka included | 27 | 61 | 2.26 |
| Tanaka not included | 8 | 17 | 2.12 |
The points per game taly is not entirely different, but the fact that with Tanaka in the side, Leeds have amassed a bigger number of points over a much bigger range and that highlights Tanaka’s importance.
Leeds fans are running out of superlatives to describe Tanaka’s form and for White to still feel the summer signing is underrated, shows just how good he has been. He will start again on Sunday afternoon.
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