Leeds United will have a couple of big decisions to make in January.
Lukas Nmecha and Ilia Gruev’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. So unless the pair are offered new deals, they are free to agree pre-contracts with clubs overseas.
Equally, the 49ers could opt to sell either Gruev or Nmecha to avoid losing them as free agents.
But another Leeds star who was set to leave for a different reason in January is now to stay put at Elland Road in what is a major boost for Daniel Farke and Co.
Ao Tanaka set to remain at Leeds in January as international tournament scrapped
In January, we were set to miss Ao Tanaka due to international duty. The midfielder would likely have been involved in Japan’s squad for the Asian Cup.
The tournament was scheduled to run from 7 January up until 5 February. This would’ve meant we could’ve been without our midfielder for nearly a month.
In that time, Tanaka could’ve potentially missed out on five Premier League games for the Whites.
However, the tournament has been postponed due to safety concerns in Saudi Arabia, with missile and drone attacks affecting airports and sports venues.
The Asian Cup has been rescheduled from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028. So Leeds will likely find themselves without Tanaka for a spell midway through next season as opposed to the current campaign.
This is a major boost for Leeds United
Obviously, from a personal perspective, we’ll all feel sorry for Tanaka that the possibility of going to represent his country in a tournament has been taken away from him for now.
But from a selfish Leeds United perspective, it’s perfect.
Tanaka has started seven out of our nine Premier League games so far this season, playing 564 minutes (Sofascore). For my money, the Japanese midfielder has been one of our better players.
Especially with Anton Stach starting the season poorly, losing Tanaka in our midfield for a run of games will have been devastating.
Obviously, we’ll lose him at some point as he goes off to play in the rescheduled Asian Cup next season.
This could very well influence the 49ers’ transfer business in the summer when it comes to potentially recruiting another midfielder.
