Leeds United have been linked with a move for the Japan international but there could be a spanner in the works.
According to Japanese publication Sanspo, Belgian club Sint-Truiden are attempting to beat Leeds United to the January signing of Yosuke Ideguchi, so do the Whites have three months to ensure the Japan international ultimately opts for Elland Road?
A recent report from the Sun claimed Leeds were closing in on a deal for the 21-year-old that would see him move to England in the next transfer window, with a £700,000 transfer fee agreed and only possible work permit issues holding up a deal.
But now it seems another club have thrown their hat into the mix, and when you consider the different options available to the midfielder, Leeds could still have one big advantage, provided they rediscover their best form sooner rather than later.
While a stint in the Belgian top flight is not to be sniffed at, Ideguchi will know that if Leeds can return to the top flight they will offer the Premier League football so many foreign players crave.
In the first few weeks of the campaign, it looked like Leeds were destined to finally surge back to the top flight, with their impressively assembled squad working brilliantly together and putting weaker sides to the sword.
That was before a worrying blip saw Leeds lose to Millwall, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday, and Ideguchi would be forgiven for casting a wary glance at the recent performances of his alleged suitors.
If Leeds are in or around the top six come January, the Japanese star will surely jump at the chance to move to Yorkshire in a bid to give them the final push into the top flight come May. but if the slump continues, the Whites’ director of football may struggle to convince Ideguchi that Elland Road is the best place for him at this stage of his career.
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