Japanese international Ao Tanaka joined Leeds United this week from Fortuna Dusseldorf. The 25-year old made his debut against Hull City this weekend.
Tanaka came on as a late substitute during Leeds United’s 2-0 win over Hull City at Elland Road. Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph were on the scoresheet as Leeds recorded their second league win this season.
The midfielder joined Leeds for a reported €4million fee. Now, Fortuna Düsseldorf sporting director Klaus Allofs says the club did not need to sell Tanaka this summer.
Leeds United pushed to sign Ao Tanaka
Tanaka was unveiled by Leeds United a day before the transfer deadline. Fortuna Dusseldorf Sporting Director Klaus Allofs has now revealed that the German club were in a good position financially and did not need to sell the Japanese international:
“The targets we set ourselves in sport have been exceeded. We didn’t actually have to sell Tanaka, we had already realised the transfer surplus we had planned.
“But we’re all in the same boat. We cannot say that one hundred percent of the money from sport is used again in sport. Many things have not yet developed the way we would like. So, we can’t put everything into the team. The fact is that we all act very carefully and do not take any unpleasant risks. The fact is without the sale of Ao, we would not have been able to fill all positions.”
Breaking down Leeds’ transfer deadline deals
After the Whites managed to secure the signings of Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka and Isaac Schmidt this week, the plan was reportedly to add one or two more players before the window closed. Solomon joined on a season-long loan from Spurs, while Tanaka joined from Fortuna Dusseldorf and Schmidt from Swiss side St. Gallen.
However, these deals were not able to be completed before the deadline. When Daniel Farke was asked about the club failing to add another player after the signing of Schmidt and Tanaka, he had this to say:
“I’m a sportsman, and I’m concentrate on sports and the quality of the players. And for me, it was such a busy window in order to prepare this, also after many outgoings and new incomings for the games. Also to analyse potential new signings and and give my thoughts on [that]. I’m not an accountant. So I can’t tell you right now how exactly the situation looks like, what we would have been capable to spend. We spent lots of money also on Joe Rodon, for example, and also a bit on Jayden Bogle. If it would be possible to spend even more? I can’t tell you, because it’s also not my topic.”
Leeds United go into the international break in fourth place in the Championship off the back of the win against Hull City.
