Manchester United are interested in signing Ao Tanaka from Leeds United at the end of the season.
According to TEAMtalk, they will face competition from Everton and Newcastle United. The 27-year-old Japanese midfielder has done well for Leeds, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
He has the quality to play for a bigger club, and a move to Manchester United would be a huge opportunity for him. It would be a major step up in his career, and he would get to compete in Europe and fight for major trophies with Manchester United.
It remains to be seen whether the Red Devils come forward with an official proposal to sign the Japanese international. Meanwhile, Everton and Newcastle are keeping tabs on his situation as well. The 27-year-old is at the peak of his career, and this is the right time for him to try out a new challenge.
Leeds will not want to lose an important midfielder like him in the summer. It remains to be seen whether they can convince the player to continue at Elland Road.
Everton and Newcastle have ambitious projects, and they will be hoping to compete in Europe more often than not. They need to improve the team and plug the gaps in their squad. Signing the 27-year-old midfielder could be ideal for them.
Ao Tanaka has done well with Leeds
Tanaka has shown his quality in the Premier League with Leeds, and he could be tempted to try out a new challenge.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old can operate as a central midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, or a defensive midfielder. He will help create opportunities for his teammates and score goals as well. He has four goals to his name in all competitions this season. His ability to slot into multiple roles and perform at a high-level could make him a very useful option for Leeds.
Tanaka has a contract with the English club until the summer of 2028, and they will look to recoup as much as possible for him in the summer.