Leeds United play down £3m Hidemasa Morita links amid claims of imminent deal | OneFootball

Leeds Live understands that Leeds United are not progressing a deal for Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita, despite recent claims. The 30-year-old is out of contract this summer.

Talk this week suggested a deal in principle had been agreed, but there have been no advancements. It appears the noise has again come from the player’s side.

Morita has 40 caps for Japan and was in the squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. He is a holding midfielder with 13 Champions League appearances and has lifted the domestic title with Sporting in each of the past two seasons.

He has suffered four separate injuries this campaign and Sporting are not expected to renew his deal after four years of service, following his £2.98m move from Santa Clara in 2022.

Transfer work is expected to be shaped by the World Cup this summer. Even if Leeds secure Premier League survival this weekend, any extra time gained is likely to count for little.

On paper, midfield is not the priority, with a goalkeeper and a striker among the positions likely to be strengthened. A back-up left-back, explored in January, remains on the agenda for the summer.

United already have five senior midfielders in Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka, Sean Longstaff and Ilia Gruev. Brenden Aaronson can also operate deeper when required.

Source: Leeds Live