Leeds United may have seen local claims dismissing interest in Hidemasa Morita, but the Portuguese press continue to insist the move is very much alive – and now increasingly close after the club secured Premier League survival.

The Sporting CP midfielder has been heavily linked with Leeds United for months. Reports in Portugal have steadily escalated from initial interest, to advanced talks, and then to claims of a formal contract proposal already being on the table. Now comes another step.

With Leeds mathematically safe after the 1-1 draw against Tottenham, Portuguese newspaper A Bola state the result removes the final major obstacle standing in the way of the transfer.

Portuguese press not backing down

Local reporting around Leeds United has recently played down the idea of a move for Morita. However, in Portugal, the line remains remarkably consistent.

A Bola again insist the midfielder already has a contract offer in hand from Leeds, running until 2028 and including the option of an extra season.

The key issue throughout the process was always Premier League football.

Morita has long made it clear he wanted England for the final stage of his career, but only if it meant playing in the top flight. Leeds staying up therefore changes the situation significantly from the player’s perspective.

That is why the latest result against Tottenham is being framed in Portugal as a decisive development.

Four-year Sporting spell nearing end

The midfielder’s exit from Sporting has looked inevitable for a long time.

Morita informed the club well in advance that he did not intend to renew his contract, despite the admiration he enjoys internally. Rui Borges has consistently valued the Japanese international highly, and the midfielder remained one of the coach’s most-used players.

Across four seasons in Lisbon, Morita has made 164 appearances, scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists.

Considering Sporting signed him from Santa Clara for just €3.45m (£3m) in 2022, the move is widely viewed in Portugal as excellent business, even if the club will now lose him on a free transfer.

What happens next

There is now a growing gap between the tone in Portugal and the one around Leeds locally.

Portuguese outlets continue to present the transfer as well advanced and increasingly inevitable. Leeds-based reporting has been far more cautious and, in some cases, dismissive.

Still, the Portuguese side are not changing their stance.

With Premier League survival secured, Morita’s long-standing condition has effectively been met. That does not automatically complete the transfer, but it removes the biggest complication surrounding this hypothetical deal.

So from Portugal, at least, the expectation remains the same. Morita is edging closer to Elland Road.