Fabio Grosso has already revealed chat about Tarik Muharemovic's future as Leeds hunt £30m deal
Leeds United are looking to refresh their backline ahead of the 2026-27 season.
After an impressive return to the Premier League, it was confirmed that Pascal Struijk would be leaving the club, joining Brighton.
The 23-year-old made 32 Serie A appearances for the Neroverdi as they finished 11th following promotion.
As a result, he started three matches at the World Cup for Bosnia & Herzegovina, missing the 3-1 win against Qatar through suspension.
With Leeds interested in a £30million deal this summer, new Fiorentina boss and former Italy international Fabio Grosso has already provided a hint on his future.
What has Fabio Grosso said as Leeds eye Sassuolo defender?
Coming through at Austrian side Wolfsberger, he made the switch to Juventus in 2021, where he spent three years with the reserve squad, before joining Sassuolo on loan in 2024.
It would then be in Emilia-Romagna where he made a name for himself, as Grosso's side were promoted back to Serie A.
On that season, the 2006 World Cup winner and former Sassuolo boss said: "Last year, he wasn't the star of our season; sometimes he played, other times one of his teammates did," speaking to Italian outlet Cronache di Spogliatoio.
"I remember a very interesting episode involving him, linked to the fact that he wasn't playing much at the time. Once, towards the end of the season, he came into the locker room to ask me what I thought of him and his future.
"I, with equal sincerity, told him that I saw in him a strong lad, a player to focus on in the coming months. I added that he had to continue training well because, then, suddenly, football presents you with opportunities that can then allow you to raise your level," he said.
And this would most certainly go on to be the case for Muharemovic, who started 32 times in Serie A last term, after making just 22 starts in Serie B the year before.
In just a short snippet from Grosso, it is clear that he is not just self aware in terms of considering a move, but also capable of responding to the managers push into the starting XI.
Why Tarik Muharemovic is the perfect character for Leeds
If there is one thing the Elland Road crowd loves, it is a character.
Muharemovic is most certainly one too, having shown incredible mental strength at Sassuolo.
Not only did he stand up to a World Cup winner and icon of Italian football in Grosso, he knuckled down and got the job done following the words.
With this in mind, Leeds want and need players there for the long-term project, not ones who will want to leave at the first time of adversity.
Muharemovic, like any footballer, took an issue with the fact he was not playing, but the character mentioned by Grosso saw him not just push his way into the team, but attract attention across the continent too.
If Daniel Farke is to replace Struijk properly this summer, doing so with such a character would be a strong option for the Elland Road faithful.