West Ham United and Fulham are in the picture to sign Fortuna Düsseldorf’s Ao Tanaka in the summer window, according to a report from Germany.
The midfielder initially joined the second division German club on loan in 2021 before his stay there was made permanent last year. He managed a goal and three assists from 23 games last season and his displays have ‘attracted the attention’ of both West Ham and Fulham.
That’s according to Rheinische Post, who name the two London clubs when explaining that it’s ‘no secret’ the 2. Bundesliga side are likely to be without the 24-year-old next season.
That’s because Tanaka, who has a contract until 2025, ‘wants to leave’ in this window.
Fortuna Düsseldorf manager Daniel Thioune has also admitted that “there are clubs” interested in the Japan international but didn’t provide details of those teams.
The newspaper states Fortuna Düsseldor director of sport Klaus Allofs and their sporting director, Christian Weber, will need around €3m to sanction Tanaka’s sale this summer.
The price quoted is unlikely to be a problem for either West Ham and Fulham to match.
