Leeds United have sorted out the need for a new midfielder following the confirmed arrival of Japan star Ao Tanaka, but another target will remain with his current club despite wanting a move to Elland Road.
The Japan star has joined Leeds for a bargain £3.4m move and penned a contract until 2028. Tanaka has already said he wants to help Leeds gain promotion to the Premier League come the end of the season.
It sees Leeds bring in a midfielder capable of scoring goals and contributing to attack after Daniel Farke made it clear he wanted another body in the middle of the park, one to go next to Ethan Ampadu.
Leeds aren’t done just yet following the arrival of Tanaka, with a move to sign Isaac Schmidt also set to take place before Friday’s 11pm deadline. Schmidt has flown to Leeds and an announcement will follow.
Before Ao Tanaka, Dejan Ljubicic was Leeds’ midfield target
Austria star Dejan Ljubicic was the first goalscoring midfielder that Leeds tried to sign this summer. Leeds saw a £3.3m bid rejected for Ljubicic, and The Whites did not return with a move for the Koln player.
Instead, Leeds have gone after Tanaka for a similar price, another international in the last year of his contract with a second-tier Germany side. Tanaka has been signed for a similar price to Leeds’ Ljubicic bid.
Now, a report from Austrian outlet Laola1 says the ‘situation has changed’ and Ljubicic will remain at Koln despite interest from Leeds. Ljubicic’s £7m asking price has not been met even if he wanted to join Leeds.
Possible January return for Ljubicic with contract dwindling
What it does mean for Koln and for Ljubicic, is the German side are willy lose money on their star player. His deal will enter a final six months come January and non-German sides can approach him on a free.
Ljubicic is unlikely to sign a new deal and Leeds could make a move for the “special” player on a pre-deal agreement, signing him on a free next summer. Or, Leeds may make a cut-price move for him in January.
Tanaka was on Leeds’ radar last summer but remained until today and that shows when Leeds identify a player, the slate is not completely cleaned for the next window. Ljubicic may stay on the Leeds shortlist.
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