Hidemasa Morita ‘to join’ Hull on free as Forest ‘close to’ £34m Diomande deal | OneFootball

Hidemasa Morita is set to join Hull City on a free transfer following his Sporting CP exit. According to BBC Radio Humberside, a deal for the 31-year-old has been agreed, with reports elsewhere adding that a medical has been completed.

Leeds were repeatedly linked from Portugal earlier in the summer, but when asked in May the club expressed confusion and sources called the rumours nonsense. Morita’s agent was also baffled by the suggestions. He will be at Elland Road next season with Hull, not Leeds.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly closing in on Morita’s former Sporting team-mate Ousmane Diomande. Fabrizio Romano reports that a €40m (£34m) package is close to being agreed and that Sporting have lined up Ibrahima Ba as a replacement.

Diomande’s name briefly featured in Leeds’ centre-back search, though as a right-footer he did not fit the profile to replace Pascal Struijk. The Whites instead agreed a £34m deal for Bosnia international Tarik Muharemovic.

If Forest complete a deal in the coming weeks, Diomande could make his competitive debut against Leeds. Daniel Farke’s side begin the 2026/27 campaign at the City Ground on Saturday August 22.

Fulham have opened talks with Real Madrid over striker Gonzalo Garcia, The Athletic reports, with new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa leading the pursuit after working with the 22-year-old in Madrid’s youth and first-team.

Madrid are open to an exit. Jose Mourinho is believed to like the striker but cannot guarantee him a prominent role, and Garcia has 13 goals and seven assists in 51 senior matches since 2023.

Fulham are light up front, with Raul Jimenez departing at contract end and last season’s top-scorer Wilson rejecting new terms to join Leeds. Rodrigo Muniz has also struggled with injury recently.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk