Ao Tanaka was once again Leeds United’s best player in the 2-1 victory over Watford and the new nickname he has been given from his teammates is a good reflection of that.
Despite being brought in to play as more of an advanced eight at Leeds, Tanaka has been forced to fill in the holding midfield spot due to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev’s long-term injuries.
The Japanese international has shown no signs of having to learn on the job, backing up a couple of solid displays at Norwich City and Sunderland, with man of the match performances against Sheffield United and Watford.
It has taken Tanaka just four starts to show he is already one of the best players in the Championship. He always seems to find time on the ball, even when the game is at its most chaotic.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna waxed lyrical about Tanaka’s technique after a pre-season game with Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer, and it is very easy to see why.
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What Tanaka has been nicknamed at Leeds
Although Leeds should’ve won by more goals in the end, they weren’t as in control as the game against Sheffield United last Friday.
Through the pace and strength of the likes of Festy Ebosele and Kwadwo Baah, Watford were able to get in behind on a couple of occasions.
However, Tanaka’s excellent reading of the game allowed him to get in a couple of important challenges, making no less than six tackles in the match, despite being on a booking from early on.
Daniel Farke was asked about Tanaka’s performance in his post-match press conference and gave a brilliant answer regarding what he has been nicknamed by his Leeds teammates already.
Instead, the Leeds boss actually gave him a nickname of his own, showing the sort of impact Tanaka has already had.
He said: “He was outstanding today. Lads are doing some jokes about Tiger Tanaka – a Bond villain. No, no he is James Bond. He saved the world today. Steel. Crucial and decisive duels. He was James Bond for us. He can keep going like this.”
Tanaka could be one of Leeds’ biggest ever bargains
Considering how long Leeds spent looking for a new midfielder in the summer, it is a mystery as to why Tanaka wasn’t signed earlier.
Costing just shy of £3 million, Leeds could well have found one of the biggest bargains in recent history, with his output far outweighing that minimal fee.
Already Tanaka looks as though he could be worth well in excess of £10 million and that value will only grow if he continues to play like that.
Tanaka and Joe Rothwell looks like a brilliant partnership, but it could be even better when the former is able to play alongside Ampadu.
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