{"id":260645,"date":"2025-07-13T04:11:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T04:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/260645\/"},"modified":"2025-07-13T04:11:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T04:11:14","slug":"ao-tanakas-international-teammate-is-available-for-just-17-2m-hed-trump-brenden-aaronson-at-leeds-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/260645\/","title":{"rendered":"Ao Tanaka\u2019s international teammate is available for just \u00a317.2m, he\u2019d trump Brenden Aaronson at Leeds\u00a0United"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leeds United are on the hunt for a playmaker this summer, with Brenden Aaronson\u2019s struggles apparent last season in the Championship.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s fair to say that\u00a0Brenden Aaronson has been a frustration to fans<\/a>\u00a0over the course of last season.\u00a0Now, Leeds United<\/a> are eyeing an upgrade even if the midfielder has been in better form of late, with\u00a0Aaronson starring for USMNT in recent games<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Aaronson believes his Leeds future is clear<\/a>, but clearer still is Leeds\u2019 need for a higher quality player in the attacking midfield role, with a true playmaker capable of threading the needle with passes now required.<\/p>\n

Numerous players could easily replace Aaronson<\/a> and those include James McAtee, who is an upgrade on Aaronson<\/a> in that role, but we have someone else in mind who could be a bargain for the Whites.<\/p>\n

\"SCPhoto by Daniel Kopatsch\/Getty ImagesLeeds should make a move for SC Freiburg midfielder Ritsu Doan<\/p>\n

Tanaka is a Japanese international with Ritsu Doan<\/a>, who plies his trade in Germany with SC Freiburg. However, while Tanaka is steady, Doan is one of Japan\u2019s stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Doan can operate as a right-sided playmaker or in more of a central role. Alongside Kaoru Mitoma and Takefusa Kubo, Doan is one of the best players in this exciting Asian side, and he would be perfect for Leeds.<\/p>\n

Given his versatility and quality, Doan would be an automatic upgrade on Aaronson and someone they could utilise in different systems and formations easily as well.<\/p>\n

Daniel Farke has already made use of the German market in his time with Leeds, and there are more players from the Bundesliga who are being linked with a switch to Leeds this summer as well.<\/p>\n

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES<\/p>\n

Doan\u2019s playmaking and dribbling abilities set him apart from most attackers in the German top flight, and Leeds need attacking differentials of his nature in order to survive. He is a clutch player in terms of his output in big moments of games.<\/p>\n\nTeam<\/td>\nAppearances<\/td>\nGoals<\/td>\nAssists<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nGamba Osaka<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nFC Groningen<\/td>\n66<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPSV Eindhoven<\/td>\n64<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nArminia Bielefeld<\/td>\n35<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSC Freiburg<\/td>\n123<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJapan<\/td>\n57<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ritsu Doan\u2019s career stats so far (all comps)<\/p>\n

Having just enjoyed the best season of his career, Doan\u2019s stock is at an all-time high. He scored or assisted 19 goals in 36 games in all competitions, having managed at least 12 in each of his other seasons with Freiburg to date.<\/p>\n

He even overlapped briefly with Gabriel Gudmundsson for Groningen. However, with two years left on his deal at Freiburg, Doan could leave the club this summer for a fresh opportunity. The problem is that other clubs are also keen on the 27-year-old.<\/p>\n

\"RitsuPhoto by Alex Grimm\/Getty ImagesLeeds should be keen with Doan\u2019s price tag just \u00a317.2 million<\/p>\n

Doan is at the peak of his powers and one of the best attackers outside of the five most dominant sides of recent years in German football: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt.<\/p>\n

The latter and Dortmund are two of the teams most interested, per Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany. Nothing has materialised yet, but this has been the case for months. His update on Twitter\/X below is from May.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udea8\u26ab\ufe0f\ud83d\udfe1 Borussia Dortmund have entered the race for Ritsu #Doan<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Eintracht Frankfurt are still very keen on him and plan to begin negotiations next week. With #BVB<\/a> now in the picture, #SGE<\/a> face strong competition.<\/p>\n

The 26-y\/o Japanese winger is ready for a transfer. Freiburg boss\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/GVLVF75l2v<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Crucially, it tells Leeds that Freiburg haven\u2019t set an astronomical asking price. Doan is available for around \u20ac20 million or \u00a317.2 million this summer. That could be a bargain to displace Aaronson from a creative role in the side.<\/p>\n

Of course, Leeds need to ensure their team next season has enough intensity and intelligence off the ball as well next season. That is another area of Doan\u2019s game that isn\u2019t lacking.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n