Report: Yosuke Ideguchi interest indicates Leeds United’s long-term transfer plans

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Leeds United are already planning to sign Japanese international Yosuke Ideguchi in the January transfer window.

There’s something increasingly cosmopolitan about Andrea Radrizzani’s recruitment at Leeds United.

While previous owner Massimo Cellino made Italian the dominant voice of the Elland Road dressing room and Garry Monk prioritised homegrown talents, players from nine different countries arrived in West Yorkshire this summer including Spain, Macedonia, Morocco and Ghana.

The Sun (September 10^th, page 58) reports that a Canadian could soon to be adding his accent to the mix with Orlando City striker Cyle Larin.

And the Yorkshire Evening Post reported recently that Leeds are also in negotiations with Gamba Osaka to sign 21-year-old Japanese midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi – the J-League’s reigning Young Player of the Year.

Change of tack

New director of football Victor Orta revealed that Leeds were hoping to sign an exciting talent from Asia and, provided Ideguchi can get a work permit, he will be another new nationality represented at Elland Road.

And Tokyo Sports reports that Ideguchi’s signing would be part of Leeds’ strategy to expand the club’s scouting network across the world.

Leeds are certainly one of the biggest clubs in England despite 14 years away from the top flight so Radrizzani will also be aware that the club has high marketing potential and landing some of the most promising players from the likes of Japan and Canada will only help The Whites’ fanbase grow in other continents.

Ideguchi, whose thumping finish against Australia in the recent international break secured Japan’s place at the 2018 World Cup, would be a fine way for Leeds to tap into the Asian market.