Well, that’s a wrap. Leeds United have won promotion back to the Premier League as Championship winners and work will immediately start on building a side capable of achieving survival.
The Whites have done it in superb fashion, clocking up 100 points and just edging a Burnley side into second despite their unbeaten run of 33 games under Scott Parker. A sensational 2024-25 campaign.
In every position, players are in form. Karl Darlow in goal, the Welsh Wall, Jayden Bogle, Junior Firpo, Dan James was nominated for Player of the Season and Daniel Farke thinks Manor Solomon should have been.
When it comes to signing of the season, Bogle certainly fits the category but it is impossible to look past Ao Tanaka. Bought for just £3.4m, he was one of three Leeds players included in The Team of the Season.
Stuart Dallas thinks it will be tough to keep Ao Tanaka at Leeds
Even though Leeds have been promoted as champions, Tanaka is likely to generate interest. A midfielder that has shown he can adapt to new surroundings with the flick of a switch, after moving to Yorkshire.
Tanaka has been sensational, all for the bargain fee of less than £4m. Stadium Astro have released a clip of Dallas discussing Tanaka during a live event, before promotion to the Premier League was secured.
Dallas said: “He is the best signing in the Championship this season, just incredible. He’s perfect for the way Leeds want to play. I really do think even if they do go up, they’ll struggle to hold onto him.
“It depends how ambitious the club want to be but if a club comes in with a huge offer for him – he might have ambitions of playing at a higher level, he’s doing so good,” Dallas added, worryingly for Leeds fans.
What Ao Tanaka’s agent has said about Leeds United star’s future
Clearly, Tanaka has had a stunning season – probably, exceeding his own expectations given he had only played in Germany’s second tier and Japan’s J-League. But now, his career horizons have new perspective.
Whether Tanaka is willing to remain at Leeds if a big club comes calling, remains to be seen. Tanaka seems happy at Leeds and after promotion the chances are, he will stay put – even if Dallas thinks it may be hard.
Tanaka’s agent has said his client is ready for the Premier League. Had Leeds failed to go up, it was easy to imagine Tanaka being sold especially because his low outlay means a big profit for Financial Fairplay.
But surely, having only signed last summer and playing a key role in this Leeds side, Tanaka will remain at Elland Road at least for one season in the Premier League as he tests himself at yet another high level.
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