Leeds United are on the verge of completing their seventh signing of the summer with a player set to undergo a medical.
The Whites are still on the lookout for as many as three new additions before tomorrow’s 11pm deadline and it now appears they are closing in one of Daniel Farke’s priority positions.
Full-back, central midfield and potentially even a new marquee attacker are the areas which remain on the list but the clock is very much ticking to get all three done.
A new goalscoring number eight as been a particular priority of the Leeds boss since Glen Kamara’s departure a number of weeks ago, with not one of Farke’s midfield options getting on the scoresheet in the league last season.
But that problem looks set to be rectified as early as today as Leeds prepare to give out a medical to one of their top targets.
Leeds set to sign Ao Tanaka
Having so far failed in pursuits of Philip Billing and Gustavo Hamer, Leeds decided to turn their attention towards a former target to strengthen in that engine room.
Ao Tanaka was a player Leeds were looking at last summer until deciding to sign both Kamara and Ilia Gruev instead, but clearly he is someone who has remained on the radar.
Leeds began talks over a move with Fortuna Düsseldorf over a permanent switch for the 25-year-old and now according to Florian Plettenberg, the deal is on the verge of completion.
Writing on his Twitter account, Plettenberg has claimed Tanaka is on his way to England to undergo a medical before putting pen-to-paper on a contract until 2028.
Leeds are said to have agreed a fee slightly in excess of £3.4 million, which the Sky in Germany reporter thinks is excellent business, describing him as a ‘top player’.
Hopefully Tanaka is the first of three new signings through the door at Elland Road before the window slams shut on Friday.
What Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna said about Tanaka
Tanaka came up against Leeds’ 2023/24 promotion rivals Ipswich Town in a friendly during the summer and was on the winning side, 2-1.
Post-match, McKenna was asked to pick one Fortuna player he would like to sign, and went with Tanaka as a result of his ‘incredible technique’.
He said: “Midfielder Ao Tanaka. Anyone who is serious about football will know a little about him. He has incredible technique. But there are other good players at Fortuna, too.”
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