The reported Leeds United target was on target in the J-League this past weekend.
Reported Leeds United target Yosuke Ideguchi scored his fourth goal of the season for Gamba Osaka on Saturday.
The 21-year-old midfielder opened the scoring in what ended up being a 2-2 draw away to Omiya Ardija.
It was the Japan international’s fourth goal in 22 games for the J-League outfit this season.
His goal comes in the same week as Ideguchi suggested to Japanese publication Hochi that he wants a move to Europe, amid speculation linking him with Leeds.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported earlier in the month that the Whites are in negotiations with Ideguchi – who has three caps for his country – after Director of Football Victor Orta previously claimed that United were close to signing “a big surprise from Asia.”
Ideguchi certainly seems as if he would be an obscure target, but Leeds have hired Toshiya Fujita as their Head of Football Development for Asia, which might go some way to explaining the link.
If it materialises in January then Ideguchi will hope to be joining a side in contention for a Premier League promotion. At the moment, that’s very much the case.
Leeds remain top of the Championship despite Saturday’s defeat at Millwall and on the whole there is plenty of optimism surrounding their season thus far.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
