Fulham are one of a clutch of Premier League sides seeking to sign Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The 24 year-old appears poised to leave Fortunen after they failed to win promotion from 2. Bundesliga and has attracted the interest of a number of English sides. The 24 year-old is the subject of a transfer tussle between West Ham United and the Whites, according to Jason Burt, and West Bromwich Albion saw a bid rejected in January.
Tanaka has made 55 appearances, scoring twice, in two seasons since moving to Germany from Kawasaki Frontale, initially on loan, in June 2021. The midfielder has won nineteen senior caps for Japan and scored the controversial goal that beat Spain in the World Cup last winter and helped the Samurai Blue top their group.
The classy playmaker was one of the most consistent performers in the J-League, winning three league titles with the Azzurro Nero, and following up his Rookie of the Year award in 2019 with a place in the team of the season in 2020. Marco Silva is seeking engine room reinforcements and Tanaka could offer a different profile to the club’s other first-team midfielders whilst fitting the mould of proficient ball players who would thrive in Fulham’s adventurous, possession-based approach.