Japan international Yosuke Ideguchi is due to undergo a medical at Leeds United on Monday before completing his movefrom Gamba Osaka, according to a reliable journalist.
Yorkshire Evening Post reported Phil Hay claimed on his personal Twitter account on Monday that Ideguchi, 21, will jet in to finalise the terms of the transfer before signing a four-year contract ahead of an official announcement on Tuesday.
Yosuke Ideguchi due at Leeds for his medical today. Should officially join on a four-year deal tomorrow. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 8, 2018
In a significant development, Hay reported that Ideguchi is now expected to receive a work permit from the Football Association.
Nevertheless, it is expected that Ideguchi will still be loaned out to Spanish second-tier side Cultural Leonesa until the end of the season.
it sounds like Ideguchi will actually receive a work permit from the FA but he's still expected to move on loan to Cultural Leonesa for the rest of the season.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 8, 2018
Leeds have already confirmed that a deal is in place for Ideguchi to be snapped up this month, but it very much seems as though the Japan international midfielder has been signed with a view to him starring next season.
Good move for Leeds?
Signing Ideguchi is less of a gamble than it initially appeared as it seems he will now secure a work permit for English football, where regulations are more strict than in many other European countries. With Samuel Saiz set to miss the next six matches, Leeds fans might wonder whether the club should abandon plans to loan out the 10-tunes Japan international. There has been a mixed success rate of Japanese stars in English football, but highly-rated Ideguchi is good enough and tough enough to succeed where others have failed. He is a multi-dimensional central midfielder, capable of being a goalscorer, creator and destroyer.
This is Futbol rating: 7/10
Likely to happen?
Leeds have made it clear that it is a done deal beyond Ideguchi completing the seeming formality of a medical. Assuming he is in good health, the player will be in Spain starting the next phase of his career in the coming weeks, although some will wonder why he does not remain at Elland Road for the remainder of the campaign.
This Is Futbol rating: 10/10