Kicker reports that Fortuna Düsseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka has attracted interest from both VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 24-year-old’s contract at Düsseldorf expires in 2025 meaning the club does not have to sell him this summer. However, Tanaka previously had a release clause in his contract which was worth €5m but could only be activated at the end of May, this now means that a price for the 24-year-old is negotiable.
Tanaka joined Düsseldorf last summer permanently from Kawasaki Frontale in his homeland for €1m having initially spent the previous season on loan at the 2.Bundesliga club. Last season, the 24-year-old only played 25 times for Düsseldorf as a ligament injury cut short his season.
Tanaka is mainly a midfielder and at Frankfurt could likely be seen as a replacement for Djibril Sow who is looking to leave the club in this summer. While at Stuttgart, the Japanese international could add more depth to a relatively shallow central midfield and joins compatriots Wataru Endo, Genki Haraguchi and Hiroki Ito at the club.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
