The possibility of offering Japanese central midfielder Ao Tanaka, 27, a new deal at Leeds United has not been ruled out. The club hierarchy is evaluating all possibilities, balancing the desire to retain a reliable squad member against the potential revenue from a sale. Manager Daniel Farke was impressed with his recent performances and at his press conference on Thursday, described Tanaka as being a very important player for the club. Tanaka, who joined Leeds in August 2024, has a contract that runs until June 2028. He has made 2 appearances and provided 1 assist in the Premier League this season and has been capped 37 times for Japan, scoring 8 goals. His current market value is estimated by Transfermarkt to be €10.00m. Reports in April 2026 stated Leeds' asking price was between €10 million and €12 million. Several clubs have been linked with the player, including Everton, Newcastle United and SC Freiburg.