Clearly, Leeds United’s impending addition Yosuke Ideguchi is more than just a defensive enforcer.
Leeds United appear set to confirm their first signing of the January transfer window.
According to Yahoo Japan, the prolonged links with Gamba Osaka midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi were more than just speculation with the report claiming that he has agreed a deal to move to Elland Road in the New Year.
Due to work permit complications, the report adds that Leeds will have to loan Ideguchi to another European club until he earns permission to play in England. But while Leeds fans will have to be patient to see Ideguchi in the famous white, he may be worth the wait.
Because it seems that the 2016 J League Rookie of the Year is about as close to a complete midfielder as you can get – albeit one with a long way to go and a lot of potential left to fulfil.
Ideguchi is renowned in Japan for his ball winning abilities, his tenacity in the centre of the park and for offering a sheet of steel in front of the defence. He’s even been compared, albeit ambitiously, to none other than N’Golo Kante in some quarters, as reported by Leeds Live.
But there’s another part of Ideguchi’s game that has gone under the radar. The highly-rated midfielder is partial to the odd wondergoal, as Australia found out when Ideguchi’s strike sealed Japan’s place in the World Cup in September, but he also offers a creative threat going forward.
Ideguchi’s seven assists in the J League last season was the most in Gamba Osaka’s squad – all coming from the base of the midfield. On paper, then, he could combine the defensive work ethic of a Ronaldo Vieira type with the ability to open up an opposition backline a la Pablo Hernandez.
Ideguchi may just have the potential to become Victor Orta’s most exciting signing yet at Elland Road.
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