Ao Tanaka in now or never situation to save Leeds career as extent of Anton Stach injury revealed

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Football Insider or go back to LFC Live.

(Credit: Imago) Fri 10 April 2026 7:45, UK Ao Tanaka has just been presented with a golden opportunity at Leeds United after news of an injury to his teammate Anton Stach.Daniel Farke revealed during his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to face Manchester United that the German midfielder is likely to be kept out of action until May by an ankle ligament problem. VISIT THE LEEDS TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Ao Tanaka exit plans on hold as Anton Stach to miss at least four gamesFootball Insider revealed at the end of March that Tanaka may push to leave Leeds this summer, but has been happy to put any talk surrounding his future on hold until the team have survived relegation.

Farke has only been able to hand seven starts to the man who played a crucial role in his team’s promotion from the Championship last season, and that has been a major concern for the Leeds fans. Tanaka could effectively be playing for his future during that four-game audition, and if so, it is truly now or never for him to save his career with the Whites.

He has caught the eye with his displays during his team’s FA Cup run, but he must now show his capabilities at the very top level if he wants the door to open for a bigger role next term. Farke may regret the fact that he has been unable to find a more significant role for Tanaka within his plans this season, and those regrets would surely grow even bigger if he left for such a small fee this summer and went on to perform well for a rival. 🚨 Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Leeds United Insider Access Get the full story from Elland Road and Thorp Arch with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of West Yorkshire.