Credit: Imago

Evan Shaw

Sat 21 March 2026 11:30, UK

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Ao Tanaka may be about to take a giant step towards ending his time with Leeds United in the summer transfer window.

The Japanese star has been heavily linked with an exit from Elland Road in recent weeks, and the West Yorkshire outfit now appear to have a move for Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita firmly within their clutches.

Tanaka has struggled to secure regular gametime this term after his team’s promotion to the Premier League, and the fact that he has started just seven league games has set speculation swirling regarding his future.

Daniel Farke and Co. have insisted that he remains a key part of their plans at the moment, but he has not been able to break beyond the likes of Anton Stach, Sean Longstaff and Ethan Ampadu in the pecking order.

Leeds’ summer transfer plans are set to see them strengthen again as they bid to secure and then consolidate their top-flight status, and that could see Tanaka on the chopping block.

Leeds huge favourites for bargain Hidemasa Morita transfer

Leeds identified an array of targets to help them make the jump to the Premier League last summer, with Morita one of those who caught their attention.

Tanaka’s international teammate came firmly onto the radar at Elland Road, only for the Whites to ultimately choose against pursuing a deal due to what they perceived to be a lofty asking price.

However, they are now back in for the 30-year-old once again, and have been described as his “most likely destination” this summer by Portuguese outlet A Bola.

The holding midfielder is set to leave Sporting upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the campaign, and Leeds are ready to pounce to secure a bargain deal.

A Bola note that Morita is “about to fulfil his childhood dream” of becoming a Premier League player, which further leans into the idea that the deal is Leeds’ to lose in this instance.

Ao Tanaka to take future into his own hands

Football Insider revealed at the start of March that Leeds have no plans to sell Tanaka this summer, as he is still seen as a key part of their project by the coaching team.

However, while the club may still be intent on keeping him in the long term, that could easily change if the player himself decides to dig his heels in to try and demand a move.

At 27, Tanaka is in the prime years of his career, and after being such an influential figure in Leeds’ promotion last term, he would surely have been expecting more starts than a measly seven in the league.

The fact that a new midfielder now appears set to come through the door will only serve to worsen his situation even further, as the competition for places in the middle of the park ramps up again.

He will undoubtedly want to play regular football next term, and with Leeds looking to build on the foundations that they have set this time around, it could see them almost outgrow Tanaka.

If that proves to be the case, then he would surely take matters into his own hands, and try to find a way of securing a move elsewhere.