Daniel Farke’s side are continuing their search for a brand-new midfielder. They are currently attempting to sign Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Düsseldorf after Sheffield United rejected a £13million bid for Gus Hamer.
The Whites are also keen on Freiburg’s Roland Sallai, but a deal is unlikely.
Leeds need a new midfielder following the high-profile departures of Archie Gray, Glen Kamara and Georginio Rutter.
And it appears as though the Whites are doing everything they can to bring someone in before the transfer window slams shut on Friday (30 August). A deal for Tanaka could well be completed before the deadline, with the Japan international absent from Fortuna Düsseldorf training on Wednesday (via BILD, 28 August).
That would soften the blow of the Whites missing out on Billing. However, it might be a transfer decision that the player lives to regret, rather than the club.
Billing has decided to turn his nose up at the prospect of playing in the Championship, a decision which could come back to bite him.
The 28-year-old isn’t exactly the first name on the teamsheet at Bournemouth, playing just six minutes of football thus far this season. In addition, many would argue that Leeds are a bigger club than the Cherries.
Therefore, if the Whites are to come up this season, Billing might have missed out on a golden opportunity to establish himself at a club which could well be playing Premier League football next season.
However, as long as a deal can be agreed for Tanaka, that won’t be of any concern to Farke or Leeds.
In other Leeds United news, the club must pay £5million to seal a last-gasp attacker transfer.
The German newspaper reported via their website on 28 August that while the contract have not yet been officially signed, “there are many indications” that Tanaka, 25, will join the Whites on a permanent basis before the transfer window shuts on Friday (30 August).
It is understood that Leeds made a “firm offer” for the Japan midfielder, something which brought relief at Fortuna amid fears they would lose him for nothing next year when his contract expires.
Daniel Farke is reportedly a “big fan” of Tanaka [YEP] and Leeds did make an unsuccessful attempt to sign the former Kawasaki Frontale midfielder last summer.
He’s clearly someone who’s highly thought of at Elland Road – but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Germany.
Rheinische Post journalist Gianni Costa wrote to suggest that there’s a relief that Tanaka is being sold for a profit after an inconsistent spell at Fortuna, where he’s also encountered issues with various injuries.
It is understood that Leeds are the only team who’ve made a bid for him this summer despite his contract status.
Dusseldorf missed out on promotion to the Bundesliga last season after losing to VfL Bochum in the play-offs. According to Costa, Tanaka gave “one of his weakest performances for the Rhinelanders in the second leg” of the play-off final.
It doesn’t sound like he’s a big-game player, it doesn’t sound like his fitness is very reliable and it doesn’t seem as though Fortuna are too bothered by his imminent exit.
It’s a wonder why Farke is such a big fan of the midfielder, if this truly is the case.
In other Leeds United news, a contract meeting has been held for a forward who the Whites now want to sign.
The Hungarian news outlet reported on Wednesday (28 August) that Sallai, 27, is keen on a move to the Championship after Leeds made an offer to sign him before the transfer window shuts at 11pm on Friday (30 August).
It is understood that the Whites are the only team bidding to sign the former Palermo attacker, who is in the final year of his contract with Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
Nemzeti Sport adds that the Hungary international has had a meeting over his contract at Freiburg this week and will stay put if Leeds do not meet the German club’s demands for him.
Leeds have it all to do in the final days of the summer transfer window.
It’s a bit of a shock for fans to see Daniel Farke and Gretar Steinsson leaving it so late to welcome new faces to the side due to how much money the club has gained this summer from player sales.
However, there’s a good chance that the widely-reported mega-money sales of Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray has seen clubs ramp up the price tags of players when the Whites have come knocking.
That’s left Leeds with little option than to wait out the storm and make late moves for players when selling clubs are likely to reduce their demands.
Leeds will know that due to Sallai’s contract situation at Freiburg, the Bundesliga club will be playing a risky game if they price clubs out of signing him.
If they do that, they could lose the Hungary winger for free next year with him being able to talk to other clubs about a pre-contract move as early as 1 January.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have been told to pay £3.3million to seal another last-ditch deal.
Japanese source Sakanowa reported on Wednesday [28 August] that Leeds, who were interested in the 25-year-old last summer, are currently in talks with German second-division outfit Fortuna over a move.
Tanaka’s transfer fee may cost north of £3m, with Bild [28 August] claiming a £3.3m sum will be enough to prise away the player who has one year remaining on his current contract.
Despite Leeds United and Fortuna Dusseldorf competing at the same respective levels in their nations, there is no contest when it comes to the size and long-term potential of the clubs.
Whilst Tanaka missed training, there is no concern over any shift in attitude or any evidence of the midfielder attempting to force through a move, which is commonplace in the final week of the window.
With Archie Gray and Glen Kamara having departed for significant sums, Leeds are light in the middle of the park and certainly need a defensive midfield anchor, which is how the player operates best.
Tanaka is an excellent recoverer of the ball and ideal transition player, who can provide a hub for the creative talent which inhabits Daniel Farke’s team, and also has his own eye for goal with eight in 27 senior Japanese caps.
It could go to the wire – the German transfer window ends on Friday at 8pm local time [7pm UK time], but English clubs can sign players until 11pm.
Farke knows the German market inside-out and with the key signs of Tanaka’s training ground absence and contractual situation at play, it is very likely a deal could be struck to bring him to Elland Road.
In other Leeds news, one attacker on the club’s list of targets may cost upwards of £5m.
The German news outlet reported online (28 August) that the club’s stance on Tanaka is that he cannot train. However, it has been emphasised that the 25-year-old is not on strike.
Fortuna Düsseldorf have a “concrete offer” on the table with Daniel Farke keen to sign the midfielder. Negotiations are currently underway, with Leeds likely to have their bid accepted (via Sakanowa, 28 August).
A replacement will be needed at the German second-division club, who are described by BILD as “cash-strapped”.
This would be a big signing for Farke ahead of the transfer window slamming shut on Friday (30 August).
Midfielders Archie Gray, Glen Kamara and Georginio Rutter have all already left Elland Road. The ex-Leeds trio played a big part in the club’s promotion push last season.
As a result, their absences will no doubt be felt by the Whites as the season progresses. Therefore, adding a brand-new player in the middle of the park wouldn’t hurt.
Tanaka is an experienced international who has scored eight times at senior level for Japan. He has been playing his football in the German second division and might therefore be able to make a smooth transition to the Championship.
There isn’t much time left in the window and supporters will be hopeful that Leeds can get a deal across the line in time.
While there might be a few nerves about this deal getting done, fans will no doubt feel slightly more confident now that they have discovered Tanaka was absent from training on Wednesday.
The team led by Daniel Farke is still looking for a new midfield player. They are presently trying to sign Fortuna Düsseldorf’s Ao Tanaka, following Sheffield United’s rejection of a £13 million offer for Gus Hamer.
Although a trade is improbable, the Whites are also interested in Freiburg’s Roland Sallai.
With the high-profile exits of Georginio Rutter, Glen Kamara, and Archie Gray, Leeds needs a new midfield player.
Furthermore, it seems that the Whites are making every effort to sign a player before the transfer market closes on Friday, August 30. Since Tanaka, a Japan international, was not present at Fortuna Düsseldorf’s training on Wednesday, a deal for him may be finalized before the deadline (via BILD, 28 August).
If you want to receive all of our exclusives and the earliest transfer news, subscribe to the MOT Leeds News WhatsApp channel.
That way, the Whites’ loss of Billing would not be as painful. But rather than the club, the player may live to regret the transfer decision.
Billing made the decision to reject the chance to compete in the Championship, which may come back to haunt him.
With only six minutes of playing time this season, the 28-year-old isn’t exactly the first name on Bournemouth’s roster. Furthermore, a lot of people contend that Leeds is a bigger team than the Cherries.
The midfielder Philip Billing of Bournemouth appears to be out of reach for Leeds United.
Billing may have therefore lost out on a fantastic chance to establish himself at a team that may play Premier League football next season if the Whites are to succeed this season.
Farke and Leeds won’t be concerned about it, though, as long as a deal is reached for Tanaka.
In other Leeds United news, the team needs to spend £5 million to complete the transfer of a desperate attacker.
Daniel Farke, manager of Leeds United
While the contract has not yet been formally finalized, the German tabloid stated on August 28 through their website that “there are many indications” Tanaka, 25, will sign a permanent contract with the Whites before the transfer window closes on Friday, August 30.
Leeds is said to have made a “firm offer” for the Japan midfield player, allaying Fortuna’s concerns that they would lose him for free when his contract ends the next year.
Tanaka is said to have a “big fan” in Daniel Farke [YEP], and Leeds tried and failed to sign the former Kawasaki Frontale midfield player in the previous summer.
Although he is obviously well-liked at Elland Road, it doesn’t appear to be the situation in Germany.
Journalist Gianni Costa of the Rheinische Post wrote to express relief that Tanaka is being sold for a profit following an uneven tenure at Fortuna, where he also struggled with a number of ailments.
If you want to receive all of our exclusives and the earliest transfer news, subscribe to the MOT Leeds News WhatsApp channel.
Despite his contract situation, it is understood that Leeds is the only team that has placed a bid for him this summer.
Ao Tanaka and Leeds United are linked once more.
Due to their play-off loss to VfL Bochum, Dusseldorf was not promoted to the Bundesliga in the previous season. Tanaka put on “one of his weakest performances for the Rhinelanders in the second leg” of the playoff series, according to Costa.
His fitness seems to be inconsistent, he doesn’t seem to be a big-game player, and Fortuna doesn’t seem to be too concerned about his impending departure.
If this is the case, it’s amazing why Farke thinks so highly of the midfield player.
In other Leeds United news, a forward that the Whites currently wish to sign has a contract meeting scheduled.
Gretar Steinsson left Tottenham to become technical director of Leeds United. Regards: Sky Sport
Sallai, 27, is eager to join the Championship after Leeds made a bid to sign him before the transfer window closes at 11 p.m. on Friday, August 30, according to a report published by the Hungarian news site on Wednesday, August 28.
The former Palermo attacker, who is in the final year of his contract with Bundesliga team Freiburg, is reportedly the sole team bidding to sign him.
According to Nemzeti Sport, the Hungary international met this week to discuss his contract with Freiburg and will remain there if Leeds does not agree to the German club’s requests.
In the last few days of the summer transfer window, Leeds has everything to do.
Given how much money the club has made this summer from player sales, it comes as a bit of a shock to supporters that Daniel Farke and Gretar Steinsson are arriving so late to welcome new players to the team.
If you want to receive all of our exclusives and the earliest transfer news, subscribe to the MOT Leeds News WhatsApp channel.
Still, there’s a fair likelihood that teams have raised player prices when the Whites have made an offer because of the well reported mega-money sales of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter.
Leeds is now forced to wait out the storm and make hurried efforts to sign players when selling clubs are probably going to lower their expectations.
Leeds will understand that if they scare clubs away from signing Sallai, the Bundesliga team will be playing a risky game given his contract status at Freiburg.
If they take that action, they risk losing the Hungary winger for free the following season, as he might start talking to other teams as early as January 1st about a pre-contract transfer.
Leeds United has been instructed to pay £3.3 million in order to finalize another desperate contract, according to other news.
The Japan midfielder, who has played the entire game in each of the team’s four competitive games this season, was not present for Wednesday’s team practice with Fortuna Dusseldorf, according to a German magazine [28 August].
Wednesday, August 28, according to a Japanese source Sakanowa, Leeds, who shown interest in the 25-year-old during the summer, is presently in negotiations to transfer to Fortuna, a German second-division team.
Tanaka’s transfer fee might exceed £3 million; but, according to Bild [28 August], a mere £3.3 million will be sufficient to entice the player, who has one year left on his present deal.
There is no contest when it comes to the size and long-term potential of Leeds United and Fortuna Dusseldorf, even if they compete at the same levels in their respective countries.
Tanaka did not attend training, but there is no reason to be concerned about a change in Tanaka’s demeanor or any indication that he is trying to push through a move—something that happens frequently in the last week of the transfer window.
If you want to receive all of our exclusives and the earliest transfer news, subscribe to the MOT Leeds News WhatsApp channel.
Leeds are light in the middle of the park and really need a defensive midfield anchor, which is how the player functions best, since Archie Gray and Glen Kamara left for large sums of money.
In addition to being a superb ball-recoverer and a perfect transition player, Tanaka can act as a focal point for Daniel Farke’s team’s creative talent. He has eight goals in 27 senior Japanese caps.
Ao Tanaka and Leeds United are linked once more.
The German transfer window closes at 8 p.m. local time [7 p.m. UK time] on Friday, although English clubs can still add players until 11 p.m.
Given that Tanaka’s contractual status and absence from the training field are significant indicators, Farke, who is well-versed in the German market, has a good chance of closing a deal to bring Tanaka to Elland Road.
Another piece of Leeds news is that the club is targeting an attacker who may cost up to £5 million.
Ao Tanaka and Leeds United are once more connected.
On August 28, a German news source stated online that Tanaka is unable to practice, according to the club’s position. It has been made clear, though, that the 25-year-old is not on strike.
Daniel Farke of Fortuna Düsseldorf is eager to sign the midfield player, and the team has put in a “concrete offer.” The ongoing negotiations are expected to result in Leeds’ application being accepted (via Sakanowa, August 28).
The German second-division team, who BILD describes as “cash-strapped,” will require a successor.
Farke would be making a major acquisition with this before the transfer window closes on Friday, August 30.
Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, and Georginio Rutter—all three midfielders—have already departed Elland Road. Last season, the three of former Leeds players was instrumental in the team’s bid for promotion.
If you want to receive all of our exclusives and the earliest transfer news, subscribe to the MOT Leeds News WhatsApp channel.
Therefore, as the season goes on, the Whites will definitely feel their absences. It wouldn’t hurt to add a new player in the middle of the park as a result.
Tanaka is an accomplished foreign player who has eight senior goals for Japan. He may be able to move to the Championship with ease because he has been playing football in the German second level.
Ao Tanaka has been connected to Leeds United.
With only a little window remaining, supporters will be hoping Leeds can finalize a deal before it closes.
Even while there may be some anxiety over this transaction closing, supporters will surely feel a little more at ease now that they know Tanaka missed training on Wednesday. GET MORE NEWS HERE
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