{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
January signing finalised: Leeds agree six-figure midfielder swoop - reliable journalist
Leeds United will sign Gamba Osaka midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi in January after finalising a deal, according to a reliable journalist.
Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay claimed on his personal Twitter account on Monday morning that Ideguchi, 21, will arrive at Elland Road for a six-figure fee worth £500,000, plus add-ons.
It is understood that due to work permit restrictions, the Japan international will be loaned out to a European side as they see him as a signing for next season and not this one.
The Whites are said to have decided to sign him now as the J-League campaign for Gamba Osaka has already ended.
The reliable journalist states that the Yorkshire giants expect Ideguchi to gain a work permit at the end of the season.
Leeds United have agreed to sign Japan international midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi from Gamba Osaka. Will join in January for a deal worth £500k including add-ons. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) December 11, 2017
Ideguchi won't qualify immediately for a work permit under FA rules so will be loaned abroad in January to the end of the season. Leeds see him as a signing for next season and expect him to receive a work permit for it. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) December 11, 2017
The nine-times Japan international made 39 appearances across all competitions in the season that has recently ended for Gamba Osaka, scoring five goals and supplying nine assists.
Get Exclusive transfers news at Football Insider's YouTube TV channel
The playmaker has previously admitted that he would be looking move abroad in the near future, and it now seems that he is finally getting his wish.
“The desire to go abroad has not changed. That goal is there because I am a football player,” he said to Sports Hochi.
Football Insider Verdict
Signing Ideguchi is a huge risk. What if he doesn’t get a work permit at the end of the season? Leeds may be lucky if Ideguchi can earn more international caps with Japan in the World Cup, but it seems a bit of a bizarre signing to make at this stage. Thomas Christiansen needs the defence in his first-team strengthening straight away and they are simply wasting money on bolstering over areas of the squad when they don’t know what the situation may be next season. There are just too many variables in this transfer to suggest that it is a good move by the Whites.
In other Leeds United news, Pawel Cibicki made an admission on Twitter after Saturday’s win against QPR.
We’ve launched a << BREAKING NEWS FEED>> exclusively for your club. ‘Like Us’ on Facebook by clicking here if you want 24/7 updates on all Leeds United breaking news.