In another addition to our busy week of transfers in West Yorkshire, two more men may be on their way out of Leeds, as respected Whites journalist Phil Hay has suggested Caleb Ekuban and Yosuke Ideguchi are close to securing moves away from United.
It is expected that former Japan international Ideguchi will call time on his torrid spell on the books at Elland Road after 17 months, and return to his former side Gamba Osaka, from whom we purchased him from for £500,000.
The 12-cap midfielder was linked with a return to the J League in June, when it emerged that his academy side had lodged a formal bid to re-sign the 22-year-old.
An announcement of his exit is now thought to be imminent, following his return from loan side Greuther Furth, whom he played just seven senior matches for.
As for Ekuban, the 3-cap Ghana international – who made his debut for the Black Stars in March – is set to join Trabzonspor on a permanent deal following his season on loan with the Super Lig side.
It is understood that the forward’s move to Turkey will see the Whites bank €1million (£896,075) after the Black Sea Storm triggered their option-to-buy, while Ekuban is due to sign a three-year deal with the Medical Park Stadium natives once his duties at the Africa Cup of Nations concludes.
The 25-year-old has featured once for the Black Stars at this summer’s AFCON tournament, coming on as a late substitute in their final Group Stage game, which saw James Kwesi Appiah’s men top the group with a 1-0 win. They will now face Group E runners-up Tunisia on Monday for a place in the Quarter-Final.
Here’s how these Leeds fans reacted to Hay’s suggestion that Ideguchi and Ekuban are close to leaving United for the last time…
Cheers mate. Nice relaxing time off you must be having ????????????♂️
— Bobby (@bobby_wilson1) July 4, 2019
@GrantTopp your hounding out of ekuban has worked another summer!
Just de bock, bouy, Anita, left— Liam (@liamhall86) July 4, 2019
Let have a car boot
— John Hough (@johnny195757) July 4, 2019
Good riddance! Not sure what I’m going to do with this “Ekuban Out” banner now
— Grant Topp (@GrantTopp) July 4, 2019
We getting fees phil? We’ve got a habit of terminating contracts and letting them go for free
— Brandon Yates (@Brandon7Yates) July 4, 2019
We should have few quid to get few in now then.
— Ron (@ronaallleeds) July 4, 2019
Saiz, Bouy, O’Kane, De Bock, Anita, Sacko, Coyle, any news Phil?
— Jase (@Jase0909) July 4, 2019
How many still left stealing a wage.. O Kane Dé Bock Cibickie Anita Saiz O Shughnessy… Anyone else Phil?
— borisirishwhite (@leinsterwhite) July 4, 2019
What happened with Díaz? Was he just released?
— Ben Jones (@ArchieAndrews93) July 4, 2019
Phil can you make leeds go for bojan
— lewis (@PrimePablo) July 4, 2019