Several players in the Leeds United squad have played pivotal roles in taking them to the top of the Championship table this season. It has been more of a team effort this time around compared to last year and the set of Leeds players have gelled well to put them in pole position to get promoted to the Premier League. However, some players have stood out amidst the team effort and have attracted the eyeballs of several observers in the ongoing campaign. There is already talk of Leeds considering offering him new contracts for the contributions this season. Still, many feel that one of those players definitely deserves fresh terms on improved terms after making a big impact this season.
Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table and are the biggest favourites to get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.
The Yorkshire giants are focused on completing the job in the coming weeks and months and ensuring that Leeds are a Premier League club next season.
However, there is already speculation about what Leeds would need to do over the summer to ensure they have a squad good enough to survive in the top flight in their first season back.
Leeds are also keen to assess the players they would want to hold on to in the summer, and some of them are expected to be offered new contracts to honour their contributions this season.
But it has been claimed that Leeds do not want to rush those negotiations and there is clear hierarchy when it comes to sorting out the new deals for the players.
Leeds United will offer Ao Tanaka a new contract but he won’t be ‘one of the first ones’
Ao Tanaka joined Leeds from Fortuna Dusseldorf last summer for a fee of £3m and has been one of the signings of the season in the Championship.
He has by far been the best midfielder at Leeds this season and hasn’t been in the starting eleven only once since the 1-1 draw with Norwich City all the way back on 1st October.
His performances have prompted interest from even Premier League and he is expected to be one of the Leeds players who are expected to excel in the top flight if they go up.
Leeds are expected to offer new contracts to some of their top performers at the end of the season, but it seems they are not in a hurry to do so when it comes to Tanaka.
Journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that while he will be offered fresh terms, the Japanese midfielder won’t be one of the priority contracts Leeds are looking to sort out.
“[Tanaka] is not on low money. The players who get them up, they will be addressing that situation”, Bailey told Leeds United News.
“I don’t think Tanaka will be one of the first ones [in line for discussions over a new deal].
“I believe he is very happy at Leeds.”
Tanaka deserves a new and improved contract more than anyone else in the Leeds squad
Tanaka has been the player of the season for Leeds this season and has performed more like a £30m midfielder than a £3m one at Elland Road.
A box-to-box midfielder by trade with an eye for a pass, the Japanese star has seamlessly transitioned to suit Daniel Farke’s double pivot system in midfield this season.
He is a modern midfielder who is press resistant and can wriggle out of tight situations. His passing range this season has made him such a valuable performer for Leeds.
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Premier League clubs must be looking at him, and if Leeds feel they can take their time to offer him a new contract while giving out fresh deals to other players, they could be in for a surprise.
If Leeds get promoted, it would be almost impossible to snare Tanaka out of Elland Road. But Tanaka might not appreciate it if Leeds delay offering him a new contract.
He is happy at Elland Road but Leeds wouldn’t want to give him reasons to feel miffed. Sign him up on a new deal and show your appreciation towards him.
