Schalke keen on Leeds midfielder amid interest from Bundesliga sides | OneFootball

According to Sky Germany, Schalke have taken interest in Ao Tanaka but could face some stiff competition to sign the Leeds United man.

The report suggests that several English clubs are interested in the 27-year-old who has struggled for minutes at the Yorkshire club.

Meanwhile, SC Freiburg, 1.FC Union Berlin and Hannover 96 are also said to have already made inquiries about the midfielder.

However, the Japanese player himself currently favors staying in England, given he only left Fortuna Düsseldorf in the summer of 2024.

Arriving for €4million, last season, Tanaka was a key part of the team that achieved promotion to the Premier League and won the Championship.

This season, however, he has only started seven league matches, have been displaced by the likes of German talent Anton Stach. 

Leeds are open to selling the Japanese star, but are demanding a transfer fee of between €10 and €12million, which could be too much for Schalke.