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1 win in 12: Gamba Osaka and Yosuke Ideguchi struggling as Leeds transfer links go cold after Elland Road move looked close

Yosuke Ideguchi of Japan controls the ball to score his side's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Japan and Australia at...
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Leeds United have been linked with a move for Yosuke Ideguchi this season.

Yosuke Ideguchi of Japan controls the ball to score his side's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Japan and Australia at Saitama Stadium on August 31, 2017 in...

Whilst Leeds United may be planning for the January transfer window after a poor run of form, one transfer rumour has gone very, very quiet over the last month.

The Whites have lost seven of their last nine Championship games, after dropping just four points in the first seven games of the campaign under Thomas Christiansen.

The recent struggles may leave Leeds looking for reinforcements in January, and one player who was expected to join the Whites was Gamba Osaka midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi.

Ryan Thomas of New Zealand controls the ball under pressure of Yosuke Ideguchi of Japan during the international friendly match between Japan and New Zealand at Toyota Stadium on October 6,...

The Yorkshire Evening Post reported in September that Leeds were lining up a January move for Ideguchi, with Victor Orta keen to strike a deal for one of Asia’s top talents – but since Sanspo in Japan reported that Belgian side Sint-Truiden are also keen, Ideguchi’s move to Leeds has gone a little cold.

It’s unclear whether Leeds’ poor form has led Orta to consider other areas to strengthen, or whether Ideguchi’s own form has put Leeds off, but Gamba Osaka are struggling right now, just like Leeds.

Gamba Osaka have won just one of their last 12 J.League games, and Ideguchi has managed to score just once in that run, whilst failing to register any assists.

Yosuke Ideguchi of Japan in action during the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Saudi Arabia and Japan at the King Abdullah Sports City on September 5, 2017 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ideguchi’s fortunes – in both a personal and on a team-wide sense – are less-than-ideal right now, enduring similar struggles to Leeds of late, as both clubs search to end disappointing runs.

The struggles of Gamba Osaka and Ideguchi may well have made Leeds re-think their once-inevitable move for the midfielder, whilst Leeds’ own struggles mean Christiansen and Orta look for a more proven Championship player, rather than take another gamble on a foreign import, which was their strategy for most of the summer.