5) 2016 was a breakthrough year for Yosuke Ideguchi, as he helped Japan win the AFC U23 Championship in Qatar, grabbing a goal against Saudi Arabia in the group stages. Winning the tournament also helped seal Japan a place at the 2016 Olympics. 6) In 2016, whilst Gamba Osaka finished 4th in the J1 League, Ideguchi won the prestigious Rookie of the Year Award for his outstanding performances throughout the season. Previous winners of the award include Shinji Ono (Feyenoord), Takuma Asano (Arsenal), and Hiroki Sakai (Marseille). 7) After helping Gamba Osaka to the J League Cup Final, football journalists also chose Ideguchi to be the 2016 recipient of the New Hero Award, which is presented to an under-23 player who made the biggest contribution in the competition. 8) On 31st August 2017, Yosuke scored his first international goal, a stunning shot which sealed Japan’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup, as they defeated Australia 2-0 at the Saitama Stadium. 9) On 9th December 2017, Yosuke scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over North Korea, which would help Japan finish runners-up in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship. 10) In a season when Gamba finished 10th, Yosuke Ideguchi was the only player from the club to be named in the J League’s Best XI So is this guy good enough or is he a token Jap that brings in Asian shirt revenues and if he has a good Worlf Cup we sell him on at a huge profit. To be fair to him he says he wants to play for Leeds in the Prem and wants to help us get there?
Sky Bet Championship pair Leeds United and Sunderland are thought to be weighing up moves for former England centre-back Steven Caulker according to Get West London. The 26-year-old Feltham born defender is looking to relaunch his career after being released by former club Queens Park Rangers last month. It has been reported that both Leeds United and Sunderland are being linked with moves for the player while West Ham United, Celtic and Italian club Genoa could also be ready to offer Caulker an opportunity to get back on track. Caulker had been frozen out at former club QPR prior to his Loftus Road exit and the player last featured for The R’s in a 1-1 Sky Bet Championship draw with Barnsley at Oakwell back in September. The player is believed to have struggled with some off-field personal issues which may have hampered his opportunities to play for the West London club. The defender spent almost three-and-a-half years with QPR prior to his release although he was also loaned out to both Southampton and Liverpool. Caulker’s wage demands could be a stumbling block for any potential admirers with the player thought to have been on a good wage at his previous clubs. With the once-capped England international ready to return to regular first team action, Caulker may need to consider an initial drop in salary to prove his worth.
YEP posted that he had officially signed yesterday. Perhaps the OS are waiting for a double announcement?
