Hidemasa Morita ‘to join’ Hull on free as Forest ‘close to’ €40m Diomande deal | OneFootball

Hidemasa Morita is set to join newly promoted Hull City on a free transfer after leaving Sporting CP, BBC Radio Humberside reports.

Leeds United were linked earlier in the summer, but club sources dismissed the rumours and the midfielder’s agent was also said to be baffled. Morita should be at Elland Road next season in Hull colours.

Nottingham Forest are closing on a move for Morita’s former Sporting teammate Ousmane Diomande, with a package worth €40m (£34m) close to agreement and Sporting lining up Ibrahima Ba as cover, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Diomande was briefly namechecked during Leeds’ centre-back search, though as a right-footer he did not fit the profile to replace Pascal Struijk. Leeds ultimately agreed a £34m deal for Bosnian international Tarik Muharemovic. Should Forest finalise Diomande in the coming weeks, he will have a chance to make his competitive debut against Leeds, who kick off 2026/27 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 academy and first team. Madrid are open to an exit, and while Jose Mourinho is understood to like the forward, he cannot guarantee a prominent role. Garcia has 13 goals and seven assists in 51 senior games since 2023.

Fulham’s need up front has grown with Raul Jimenez departing at contract end and last season’s top-scorer Wilson rejecting new terms to join Leeds. Rodrigo Muniz, a key Leeds target last summer, has recently struggled with injury.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk