Leeds favourites to sign league-leading midfielder, £6.8m bid to be accepted
Leeds United are already planning for next season after securing Premier League football.
Daniel Farke is on the hunt for new recruits that will help his side to stay in the top-flight with the gap between the divisions seemingly at an all-time high.
The Whites are the favourites to sign an international centre midfielder as the German looks to improve his engine room in the summer.
Leeds leading Hidemasa Morita chase
Leeds could swoop for Sporting midfielder Morita after a new development emerged from the Portuguese league leaders.
A report from the print edition of Record (2 May, page 3) claims that the 29-year-old would like to move to the Premier League, with the Whites leading the chase.
It states that the Lisbon outfit would accept a bid of £6.8million for the Japanese star, who has just one year left on his contract.
Morita could be great addition for Leeds
Farke is looking for experienced options to upgrade his squad to avoid the same fate as the newly promoted sides this season, who are set to come straight back down.
If the Whites are to do so, they need significant upgrades in every area, with only a few current members being trusted for the top-flight, one of which is captain Ethan Ampadu.
| Stats (All competitions) | Morita |
| Matches | 31 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Minutes played | 1,786 |
While the Japan international does not have experience in the top-flight in England, he has Champions League football under his belt.
Morita made seven appearances in the competition this season as well as 19 appearances in the Liga Portugal, where he has notched two goals and three assists to help with Sporting’s title-chasing efforts.
The Peacocks unearthed a Japanese gem this season in Ao Tanaka, who was signed for £2.9m from Fortuna Dusseldorf last summer and they could be about to repeat the trick with his compatriot.
Tanaka would help his international teammate to settle quickly at Elland Road if he does make the move in the immediate future.
The 49ers look set to back Farke in the market and a move for Morita would be a great start to their business in the summer but much more is needed.