Sporting director says ‘special’ player doesn’t want to extend contract after Leeds United bid.
Leeds United eventually filled their midfield void with the deadline-day signing of Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf, but the Japan star was certainly not Leeds’ top target for that role.
Tanaka, 25, made his debut just over 24 hours after Leeds confirmed the 27-time Japan star’s arrival. He came on as a sub for the last few minutes of Leeds’ 2-0 win over Hull City on Saturday at Elland Road.
Fans are excited by the arrival of the Japan star. Especially as Tanaka has scored goals against Spain at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and against Germany for his country. A technically-gifted, hard-working player.
But Tanaka was not the first player Leeds tried to sign as Daniel Farke eyed a goalscoring midfielder that could play alongside the likes of captain Ethan Ampadu or Ilia Gruev in holding midfield this season.
READ MORE: Leeds target has changed his agent five times in the last 18 months
( EDITORS NOTE: This photo has been digitally enhanced) Dejan Ljubicic of 1.FC Köln reacts dejected after the Second Bundesliga match between 1. FC…
Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
Leeds made a bid to sign Dejan Ljubicic but he has stayed put
Ljubicic, 26, was the subject of Leeds interest throughout the window. Leeds tabled a bid of £3.3m for the Austria star but it was some way away from Koln’s asking price of £6m and an improved bid didn’t arrive.
He has made an impressive start to 2024-25 with four goals and assists in four games, but his deal ends in 2025. Koln sporting director Christian Keller says Ljubicic doesn’t want to sign on, as per Geiss Blog.
“Dejo and I discussed this very openly, right at the beginning of pre-season and also recently. His position at the moment is that he wants to concentrate on the season and play the football he can play again.”
(L-R) Florian Engelhardt of FC Viktoria Koeln challenges Dejan Ljubicic of Koeln during the pre-season friendly match between Viktoria Köln and 1. …
Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
Could Leeds still be interested in a move to sign Ljubicic?
The signing of Tanaka might mean that any interest from Leeds has wained. But, the lack of a no.10 arrival at Elland Road means that if Ljubicic becomes available in January, Leeds’ interest is likely to remain.
