Daniel Farke’s frustration at Leeds United missing out on several transfer targets culminated in the club making a last-minute move for Ao Tanaka in the final hours of the summer transfer window.
Leeds paid €4m to secure the Japanese midfielder from German second-tier side Fortuna Düsseldorf on deadline day.
Fortuna Düsseldorf were initially reluctant to part with Tanaka so late in the window, but Leeds surprised the German club by meeting their asking price for the Japan international.
Tanaka made his debut with a brief appearance in Leeds’ 2-0 victory over Hull City last weekend and has already been touted as the “bargain of the summer” for the Whites.
However, the decision to sign Tanaka was far from straightforward, with significant tension behind the scenes at Leeds before the deal was completed.
Tanaka’s Arrival Stems from Transfer Frustration
According to reports from Rheinische Post (via Sport Witness), Tanaka was not Leeds’ first-choice target. The club had been pursuing other options before eventually turning to the Fortuna Düsseldorf midfielder.
Leeds struggled to secure the players that Farke and the recruitment team had initially identified, leaving the German manager increasingly exasperated by the club’s transfer market failures.
Recognizing Farke’s frustration, Leeds acted swiftly to bring in Tanaka as the window closed, aiming to bolster the squad for their push to return to the Premier League. The club hopes that Tanaka will quickly adapt and make a significant impact in their promotion campaign.
Currently sitting fourth in the Championship, Leeds will be eager to continue their strong start to the season when they return from the international break with a crucial match against Burnley at Elland Road on 14th September.