Leeds United: Ao Tanaka sale must be blocked after proving he’s perfect Anton Stach replacement
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Credit: Imago Tue 14 April 2026 11:00, UK Leeds United cannot let Ao Tanaka leave the club this summer after his fine showing against Man United in the absence of Anton Stach.Tanaka was handed only his eighth Premier League start of the season at Old Trafford as Leeds came away with a famous 2-1 win on Monday night.Noah Okafor’s brace was enough to seal the three points, as Casemiro pulled one back for the hosts but the Whites stood firm late on.Stach’s arrival at Elland Road has seen Tanaka struggle for minutes so far this term, after being a key part of their Championship title-winning campaign.Leeds’ transfer plans are becoming clearer as they edge closer to top-flight safety, but Tanaka should clearly not be a part of them after his great performance on Monday. 🔄 Leeds United Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on latest signings, departures, and contract news from the Elland Road boardroom. VISIT THE LEEDS TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Ao Tanaka was excellent against Man UnitedFarke revealed before the Man United clash that Whites star Stach had picked up an ankle injury against West Ham, and is set to be sidelined for the remainder of April.He kept Ilia Gruev on the bench in favour of starting Tanaka next to Ethan Ampadu against the Red Devils, following their strong showing together in that cup win at the London Stadium.Minutes played74′Touches67Accurate passes42/50Chances created4Big chances missed1Accurate crosses6/6Ground duels won3/4Tanaka’s stats vs Man UnitedThe Japan midfielder was at the heart of everything that Leeds did well on the night, with constant pressure in the middle of the park forcing the hosts into mistakes and sloppy play.
Tanaka was not only impressive off the ball, but he also made things happen with it, as he created four chances throughout the encounter and looked a real threat when taking set-pieces.He did fluff a great chance to make it 3-0 in the first half after intercepting a loose pass and rounding Senne Lammens, but it was more some great defending from Lisandro Martinez that denied him, rather than his own mistake.According to Jonny Cooper, via X, Tanaka now has the best win ratio of any player in the club’s history when starting games, with 30 of his 49 starts (61.2 per cent) for the club so far ending in three points to Daniel Farke’s side.Recent reports have claimed that the Whites could look to offload the 27-year-old this summer, and that he is open to a move due to a lack of game time, but they clearly must keep him based on what he has shown over the last two matches.Tanaka has to stay amid Stach transfer uncertaintySources recently exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Leeds are set to receive offers for Stach this summer after his standout debut season in the Premier League.Leeds United have won 30 of the 49 matches that Ao Tanaka has started, the best win ratio of any player in the club's history (61.2%). They've only lost six of those 49 games, also the lowest loss percentage of any player (12.2%). #lufc pic.twitter.com/FLKp48macw— Jonny Cooper (@JRCooper26) April 13, 2026 View Tweet The imposing 27-year-old has registered seven goal contributions in 26 league games so far, and ranks highly among central midfielders for chances created, duels won and possession won in the final third.He is a box-to-box player who delivers great set-pieces, much like Tanaka, and there is a distinct possibility that Leeds lose him this summer to a club that has bigger ambitions right now.It is clear, given how the Japan star has performed without Stach in the side, that they have to keep hold of him in case the German international is poached, as he is a ready-made replacement. 🚨 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.