Ao Tanaka has rekindled his Leeds United career in the last week or so with three strong performances against Manchester United, Wolves and Bournemouth.
The midfielder seemed to have been out of favour with Daniel Farke, and remained an unused substitute in seven straight Premier League games earlier this year.
However, Anton Stach’s injury meant that Tanaka was drafted into the team against Manchester United, and he produced a tireless performance in a momentous 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
The performance also turned heads at Manchester United, and they are among the clubs that are considering making a move for Tanaka in the upcoming summer transfer.
Dominic Matteo pleads with Ao Tanaka to stay at Leeds
Manchester United are in the market to sign at least two midfielders in the summer, and Tanaka is believed to be a player they are watching ahead of the end of the season.
However, Dominic Matteo has urged the Japanese midfielder to ignore interest from other clubs and stay at Leeds beyond the summer transfer window.
He stressed that Leeds and the coaches have played a big role in his development, and he should be careful about wanting to leave the club in the coming months.
Matteo told TEAMTalk: “Where’s Tanaka going to go? He’ll have options, but you have to be careful what you wish for sometimes.
“He’s a good player, with time on his side still, and he’s an international, but Leeds have improved him as a player. The coaches have obviously done something right with him.
“And when he has been at his best and when he has been fit, he’s been picked.”
And in a personal plea to the player, Matteo concluded: “I’d like to see him stay; he’s a bit of a fan favourite.”
He should stay at Elland Road
Ao Tanaka was one of the standout performers in the Championship last season, playing a key role in Leeds United earning promotion to the Premier League.
This season, though, has been far less straightforward. A mix of injuries, inconsistent form, and stronger competition in midfield pushed him out of the starting XI. There was even a stretch between late January and March when he sat on the bench for seven consecutive league games, and it started to feel like his time at Elland Road was coming to an end.
Football has a way of shifting quickly. An injury to Anton Stach, along with the team’s need for more energy in midfield, gave Tanaka another chance, starting with the game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
He made the most of it and backed that performance up with two more impressive displays against Wolves and Bournemouth.
Now, Tanaka has firmly turned things around and breathed new life into his Leeds career, despite the club’s interest in signing a midfielder.
Leeds have their eyes on Wolves’ Joao Gomes, but it seems likely that Tanaka is not the player who will make way for him.
