Leeds United continue to pull further away from the relegation zone. They recently picked up a massive result that silenced the critics, beating Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. This win marks the first time the Whites have won at the Theatre of Dreams since 1981, giving them a huge boost in their fight to stay up.
Noah Okafor was the star of the show, scoring two early goals that stunned the home crowd and set the tone for a disciplined defensive performance. With only six games left, the Yorkshire giants are now six points clear of the bottom three, sitting 15th in the table. Management and fans are now focused on a huge home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, knowing another win would basically guarantee their safety for next season.
Ao Tanaka’s future
Following the huge win in the Manchester derby, attention has shifted to Ao Tanaka’s contract. Keith Wyness, the former CEO at Everton and Aston Villa, recently shared his thoughts on the Football Insider podcast about where the Japanese midfielder might end up. Wyness thinks Tanaka has a clear quality, and with Leeds United looking safe in the Premier League, the club will likely start formal talks to keep him at Elland Road.
However, there’s an interesting twist, as Wyness mentioned Coventry City as a possible destination if Tanaka decides to push for a move. He believes Tanaka’s agents might use interest from ambitious Championship or newly promoted sides to gain some leverage during negotiations with Leeds.
“Tanaka’s got some quality, that’s for sure. Now that Leeds are looking as though they’re safe, I think they’ll open up contract negotiations.
“Leeds will want to keep him. If Tanaka were to go anywhere, he would probably be going to one of the newly promoted clubs. Coventry would be the one that I would place him at. And that may be something that his agent will be trying to keep Leeds honest in terms of the contract negotiations.
“But I think he’ll end up back at Leeds now after that win against Man United. That was quite an important sign for him and them. And I think that we’ll expect to see Tanaka in the white shirt next year.”
Statistically, Tanaka has been a steady hand in midfield, playing 22 matches so far in the 2025/2026 season. He has two goals to his name, both coming at Elland Road. His underlying numbers are also impressive; he maintains a non-penalty expected goals (npxG) of 0.23 per 90 minutes. That puts him in the top 78th percentile of Premier League players, showing he has a real knack for getting into dangerous spots despite playing deeper (stats via Footy Stats).
Should Leeds United prioritise a long-term deal for Tanaka?
The club need to make a move fast to keep the midfielder because his tactical brain brings a balance that few others in the squad can match. Tanaka acts as the link between the defence and the attack, and losing him to a rival like Coventry City would be a major step back for Daniel Farke’s project.
While he might not have a ton of assists, his 86% pass completion rate and high npxG show he’s a player who makes winning football easier. The recent win at Old Trafford proved this group can compete with the best, but they need consistency in the engine room to stay out of future relegation scraps.
Keeping Tanaka would show the rest of the league that Leeds United are no longer a selling club. If the board lets his contract run down, they risk losing a valuable player for way less than he’s worth. Fans want to see a settled midfield that can grow alongside the planned expansion of Elland Road. Hence, the board should get a deal done with his agents now to make sure the Japanese star stays at the heart of the team for years to come.
