It is perceived that Leeds United have agreed to sign Gamba Osaka’s midfielder, Yosuke Ideguchi, as per one of the recent reports by The Sun. Ideguchi is expected to join the Whites in January after his reported £500,000 switch from the Japanese club.
He has been receiving a lot of attention after having made a name for himself in Japan in the J1 League. The midfielder is very highly rated and despite being a 21-year-old, he has been receiving plenty of opportunities from the Japanese national side as well.
Even prior to the first kick of the ball in the Championship this season, Leeds United were deemed as one of the favourites to earn a promotion to the Promised Land of Premier League. They came very close to promotion last season but eventually, missed out owing to their poor run during the business end.
This season has been a topsy-turvy one so far for them, filled with highs and lows. They are currently placed at the 7th spot in the league table with 36 points to their name from 22 games, having won both of their last two fixtures in the English second division.
Ideguchi emerged through the youth ranks of Gamba Osaka and was then promoted to their senior side owing to the calibre he showcased at the youth levels. He is an intelligent playmaker and very good at taking the right decisions at the right times.
The Japanese has all the ingredients of a quality midfielder, for he has been seen knitting the side together as a unit with his shrewd passes and astute visions from the middle of the park. He toils hard and despite not being the strongest person physically, his intelligence gives him a cutting edge.
He has a tendency to find the back of the net, having scored 2 times in 8 appearances for his country. It is implied that he needs to up his game further if he is desirous of making an impact on the English soil and it is up to how the manager, Thomas Christiansen, navigates him.
BBC has reported that in spite of his prospective move to the Elland Road, he is unlikely to be operating for the Peacocks this season owing to his ineligibility for the work permit and could be loaned out to accumulate more experience under his belt. Nonetheless, he could prove to be a handy addition for the club in the near future.
