Newly-promoted Serie A side Sampdoria have agreed a deal with Kashima Antlers to take Japanese international striker Atsushi Yanagisawa on a one-year loan with an option to sign him at the end of the season. Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-japanyanagisawa&prov=reuters&type=lgns
Not a confirmed deal yet. Of course, in this particular case it seems like it is simply a matter of time. Sampdoria and Yanagisawa have already met and agreed terms, and the Serie A club is currently in negotiations with Kashima about the precise date of the transfer (Kashima wants him to play three more matches, and leave for Italy after the match vs Vissel Kobe on July 19; Sampdoria want him to play just one more match and leave for Italy on July 5). That makes it pretty close to a certainty. However, considering how many other deals have broken down at the last second, it wont be "real" until the paper is signed, which probably wont happen until the second week of June.
Only time I've seen him play was during the Belgium WC match. He almost had himself a Maradona-Sayeed Owairan action going for him if one of the Belgian defenders hadn't tackled his little ass while he was on the break. Too bad. Who knows if he would have sunk in a goal and been elevated into the history books.