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Leeds United are interested in signing Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita - providing they win promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds United are interested in signing Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita, providing they win promotion to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke’s side currently hold a five-point lead over third place, so with four games to go, they do have one foot back in the top-flight, even if there is work to do.

Whilst nobody at the club will be getting carried away, the recruitment team at Elland Road have to plan ahead, and it appears they have identified Morita as a target if Leeds do go up.

Leeds United lining up summer transfer move for Hidemasa Morita

That’s after Portuguese media outlet Record revealed that the 29-year-old is on Leeds’ radar, with the update indicating that the Championship leaders will firm up their interest if promotion is secured.

Morita has impressed for Sporting CP since his arrival from Santa Clara in 2022, with the high point in green-and-white undoubtedly coming last season as the Lisbon giants won the league title.

Yet, with his deal expiring in 2026, this summer could represent the last opportunity for Sporting CP to get a fee for the player, so his future is uncertain.

Hidemasa Morita would bring experience and quality to Leeds’ midfield

It’s going to be a very busy summer for Leeds if they do win promotion, and many will feel the club need to sign a goalkeeper, left-back, attacking midfielder and a striker before a midfielder.

Nevertheless, they will try to strengthen all of those areas, and an experienced central midfielder would benefit the team - and Morita fits the bill.

He is playing for a big club, he has won silverware, and played in the Champions League, so he would be the sort of signing that could go straight into the XI to help Farke’s side. Plus, he has won 40 caps for Japan, and he is often selected ahead of Leeds’ Ao Tanaka.

Another appealing aspect of this potential deal is that Morita is entering the final year of his contract this summer, so he should be available for a decent fee.

You would expect Leeds to be in a position to spend big in the summer under the owners, but it won't just be about throwing big money around and hoping everything clicks.

There has been plenty of discussion about the gap between the top two divisions in English football, so Leeds must get their recruitment right this summer if they are promoted, and Morita would seem to be the right sort of signing, if they can make it happen.