Japanese international Yosuke Ideguchi could make his name at Leeds United – a move to Belgium wouldn’t give him the same exposure.
The trail has grown somewhat cold on Yosuke Ideguchi’s reported January move to Leeds United.
Director of football Victor Orta stated at the start of the season that Leeds were looking to bring in an exciting talent from Asia and, via The Sun, Gamba Osaka’s Japanese international midfielder looked to be the mystery man.
The report claimed that Leeds were prepared to trigger Ideguchi’s £700,000 buyout clause but, over a month later, it is still uncertain whether or not the 21-year-old will be rocking up at Elland Road in the New Year.
Though the Yorkshire Evening Post has now reported that Leeds have begun negotiations to bring the three-time international to West Yorkshire ahead of the January transfer window. And Ideguchi could find that a move to Elland Road in the New Year is the perfect springboard for his young career.
This season alone, a number of players who were hardly household names in England have emerged as some of the most exciting talents in Championship football since making moves to Leeds.
Samu Saiz, who had previously spent the vast majority of his career in the Spanish lower leagues, is arguably the most exciting attacking midfielder in the second tier. While Ezgjan Alioski, a hitherto unknown Macedonian international playing in Switzerland, is already a fans favourite.
Saiz and Alioski, not to mention Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Jay-Roy Grot and co, have gone from under-the-radar talents to important players for one of the biggest clubs in English football.
As a result, they’ve been given access to greater exposure than ever before in a competition blessed by viewing figures bettered only by four other domestic leagues in Europe.
Ideguchi, meanwhile, would surely benefit more from building a reputation in England than Belgium.
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