JAPAN midfielder Yuki Abe is set to become Paulo Sousa’s latest addition to Leicester City’s squad after the Foxes tabled a bid for the 28-year-old.Abe, of Urawa Reds, has been told to take the next week off by his club after the Foxes approached the player’s agent with a deal to take him to the Championship.The holding midfielder has been capped 49 times for his country and was a big part of the Japan squad that reached the second round of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.Sousa needs to act quickly before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.The experienced international midfielder seems set to agree on a move to experience English football!

Antlers 0-1 CerezoBellmare 1-4 RedsFC Tokyo 0-2 SanfrecceAlbirex 2-1 FrontaleSanga 1-2 Marinos….. Nagoya on 38 play Gamba (31) Sunday. Albirex (34) took out Frontale (35). It’s getting tight at the top … tomorrow’s games see Gamba at Nagoya, S-Pulse away to Jubilo in the Shizuoka derby, as well as a couple of relegation battles between Montedio and Vissel, and Ardija and Vegalta. Tight at both ends, just as the J.League wants it! A fight to the finish!

Nagoya, all the way down to Albirex must still fancy their chances!? Personally, I reckon one of the Osaka clubs is going to surprise us all! REALLY!

Albirex Niigata 4-1 Shimizu S-Pulse 30,076Gamba Osaka 1-1 Kashima Antlers 20,046Yokohama F Marinos 0-1 Montedio Yamagata 12,184Urawa Reds 1-1 Vegalta Sendai 32,231Cerezo Osaka 4-1 F.C.Tokyo 9,086Kawasaki Frontale 4-0 Nagoya Grampus 22,407Shonan Bellmare 2-2 Kyoto Sanga 9,302Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Omiya Ardija 9,945Jubilo Iwata 3-2 Vissel Kobe 8,049

It was Gamba all the way, but for a ballboy who gained an assist for the Antlers goal!!

This hot, humid, August week sees Gamba Osaka entertain Kashima Antlers – with the chance to pull within two points of them in 3rd place with a win on Tuesday night – followed by a trip to Nagoya, sitting at the top of the league this week.

Make or break for Gamba at the top, and Vissel at the bottom … both will know whether their seasons will have meaning by Sunday night! Cerezo also have the chance to pressure the top 3 this week, while Kyoto Sanga can accept they are heading for J and start rebuilding NOW!

Tuesday August 17th games:19.00 Albirex v. S-Pulse at Tohoku19:00 Gamba v. Antlers at Banpaku19:30 Reds v. Vegalta at Saitama19.30 Yokohama F Marinos v. Montedio at MitsuzawaWednesday August 18th games (all 19.00):Frontale v. Nagoya at Todoroki Shonan v. Kyoto at Hiratsuka Iwata v. Kobe at Yamaha Cerezo v. FC Tokyo at Kincho Stadium Hiroshima v. Omiya at Hiroshima.B

Gamba march on … with an all-Japanese starting line-up! NICE!

Listen as Joe and I apologise to an Urawa resident for slamming their town (but their team is still in dire straits) and try to make something of the borefest that was a 0-0 draw!http://japanleaguesoccer.podbean.com/