Tanaka stays home from Asian Cup amid transfer speculation
Fortuna Düsseldorf boss Klaus Allofs has confirmed that Ao Tanaka has decided to stay in Germany rather than represent Japan at this month's Asian Cup.
Fortuna Düsseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka has decided not to represent Japan at this month's Asian Cup in order to concentrate on his club career.
Tanaka is said to have attracted interest from the Bundesliga with his performances for Fortuna this season, with VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Freiburg among his suitors.
The 25-year-old is said to be available for €2.5-3 million, but there's also a chance he could stay in the hope of helping Fortuna to the German top flight.
"Ao signalled to us that the situation is not favorable and that he does not want to damage his position at the club. At the same time, you can't completely ignore the topic of a transfer," Fortuna director of sport Klaus Allofs told Bild.
Allofs is both surprised and happy about Tanaka's decision to stay in Germany instead of traveling to the Asian Cup.
"We knew that he wanted to talk to the people in charge, but I thought there was little chance of that happening. So it's all the more pleasing that it has become reality."