Leeds United are close to completing a deal to sign Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka but Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth says they are not looking to stop there.
Tanaka is set to undergo a medical at Elland Road ahead of signing a four-year-deal to become Leeds’ seventh signing of the summer.
Leeds are expected to pay in excess of just £3.4 million for the Japanese international in what looks like a really shrewd piece of business.
Daniel Farke has been keen to add some more goals to his midfield and Tanaka looks as though he will fit the bill perfectly, having netted seven times for Fortuna last season.
But with Friday’s 11pm deadline drawing ever closer, Leeds have no time to rest on their laurels if they are to complete all of the signings desired by Farke.
Smyth shares Leeds’ next course of action
Heading into the final 48 hours of the window, midfield, full-back and a marquee new attacker are the positions Leeds are looking at.
With the first one ticked off, all focus is now on the other two and there certainly hasn’t been a shortage of links over the last few days.
Gustavo Hamer, Roland Sallai, Owen Wijndal and Max Aarons are all players who have been mentioned as potential targets, and it would be fair to say they are all ambitious names.
Writing on his personal Twitter account following the news of Tanaka’s imminent arrival, journalist Smyth has now explained how Leeds intend to approach the next two days.
He says Leeds are looking to officially wrap up the signing of Tanaka as early as today, which would enable him to be in the squad for Saturday’s match with Hull City, providing he receives international clearance.
Crucially, though, Smyth then added that Leeds are looking to make progress on other business before close of play today so they are in a position to add another two after Tanaka.
Leeds need a marquee addition
All things considered, Tanaka looks like a really good piece of business for Leeds as he fills a position they so desperately need, for a good price.
However, if Tanaka and another full-back, most likely on loan, were Leeds’ only additions before the deadline, the end to the window would have an underwhelming feeling to it.
To have been in talks for both Hamer and Sallai without getting either done would be a disappointment considering how transformative they could be.
Of course, only one of those was ever going to end up getting done and hopefully Leeds can work hard to get that sorted.
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