(Credit: Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Wed 25 March 2026 12:45, UK

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Ao Tanaka may push to leave Leeds United at the end of the season in a bid to secure more regular gametime, sources have told Football Insider.

The Japan international is expected to be keen to try and find a new club in the summer if his situation doesn’t improve, as he is currently down the pecking order in the centre of midfield.

Nevertheless, the 27-year-old is set to put those exit plans on hold at the moment, with sources indicating that the he is currently fully focused on helping the Whites secure their Premier League status, rather than contemplating his own future.

Tanaka has struggled to break the midfield pairing of Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach in recent weeks, and the competition for places is only set to get stronger next year if the team survive relegation.

Leeds’ transfer plans are set to see them try and consolidate their position in the top-flight even further if they do beat the drop, which could make for uncertain futures for some of their current group.

Ao Tanaka’s influence fading at Elland Road

Tanaka was one of the biggest stars of Leeds’ promotion-winning campaign in the Championship last time out, as he enjoyed an eye-catching debut season in English football.

The midfielder missed just three league games across the entire year, and notched seven goal involvements on his way to being named in the EFL’s Championship Team of the Season.

He was a key cog in the success of Daniel Farke’s group, but his influence at Elland Road has faded significantly upon their return to the top-flight.

The former Fortuna Dusseldorf man has managed just seven starts in the Premier League, with the majority of his 21 league appearances so far coming in the form of cameos from the bench.

Stach’s performances have made him one of the first names on the team sheet, while the switch to the 3-5-2 formation has seen Brenden Aaronson occupy an attacking midfield role, rather than having another holder in place.

As a result, Tanaka has been forced to the fringes of the squad somewhat in recent months, and that looks set to potentially see him head towards the exit door in the summer.

Tanaka to face resistance from Leeds

Football Insider revealed at the start of March that Leeds have no plans to let Tanaka leave ahead of next season, despite the reduced role that he has had this term.

Farke believes that the midfielder still has a role to play in the club’s long-term plans to establish themselves back at the top level, and they have no desire to push him towards the exit as a result.

With that in mind, Tanaka looks set to be met with resistance from both the manager and the club hierarchy if he does decide that he is better suited to a move elsewhere.

Leeds’ stance on his future could potentially change depending on their business in the early stages of the summer market, but for now, he isn’t likely to be moved on at the end of the season.