Credit: Imago

Aheed Abrar

Thu 7 May 2026 12:11, UK

Leeds United won’t be signing Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita in the upcoming transfer window.

According to Graham Smyth in YEP on 7 May, sources have termed the Whites’ links with the Japan international, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, as “nonsense”.

Mortia’s potential move to Elland Road has been talked up in recent days, but the news outlet reports that the West Yorkshire outfit have no interest in the 30-year-old.

It has been claimed that the Peacocks are putting together a list of targets for the summer and the Japanese midfielder is not on it, with his age and profile not something the LS11 hierarchy are looking for.

Daniel Farke must demand investment from 49ers Enterprises ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and it will be interesting to see who the Elland Road club end up pursuing.

Daniel Farke has two priorities at Leeds United

Signing a new centre-back should be at the top of Leeds’ agenda in the coming months as Farke continues to play a system with five defenders.

While Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk have formed an impressive trio in LS11, the German manager is light on options to back them up.

Sebastiaan Bornauw has failed to make much of a mark at the Whites, while James Justin is the other player who has deputised at centre-back.

Another position the West Yorkshire outfit should be looking to strengthen is up front, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin needing some competition for his place in the team.

Elland Road transfer business may hinge on exits

There are several quality players such as Rodon, Struijk, Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach who may attract the attention of some of the top teams in Europe after their performances this season.

Fringe squad members like Bornauw, Sean Longstaff, Dan James, Willy Gnonto and Joel Piroe could potentially also be looking for a way out of Leeds for regular minutes elsewhere.

There could possibly be significant upheaval within the West Yorkshire outfit’s squad soon and that will certainly determine who comes through the doors at Elland Road.

Exciting times are ahead at the Whites as Farke edges closer to confirming Premier League survival and supporters expect the 49ers to put their money where their mouth is in the summer.