When Leeds United could sign Tarik Muharemovic as verdict shared after contract discussions

Leeds United are pushing to sign Sassuolo centre-back Tarik Muharemovic.

The Whites have made signing a new centre-half a priority after Pascal Struijk left the club to join Brighton in a £20million deal.

There have been links to other central defenders since, with Udinese's Oumar Solet the latest name to be added to the growing list.

However, it appears that Muharemovic may be at the top of Leeds' wishlist after they sent a verbal proposal to the 23-year-old.

He has caught the eye of several European clubs after impressing at the World Cup with Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite his nation failing to reach the knockout stages.

It seems Leeds are the most advanced team to sign Muharemovic, as a local update has emerged on the work-in-progress transfer.

Adam Pope offers his verdict on when Leeds could sign Tarik Muharemovic

Prominent Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano shared Leeds had made contact with Muharemovic on his personal X account last week.

It's said that the Whites are confident in being able to seal the deal, though two other unnamed clubs are also directly involved in the race.

Juventus have been linked with a move and have a decision to make on a deal as they own a 50 per cent sell-on clause for their former player.

Speaking on the Leeds United podcast, Don't Go To Bed Yet, local journalist Adam Pope revealed his knowledge on the rumoured deal this Monday.

Pope said: "I can't say I know loads about him, other than what we saw [at the World Cup]. You do need a replacement for Pascal, but he's the latest name to be linked.

"But right now, is this going to be a signature that we're going to see in the next 24 hours? I don't see that happening straight away, no."

So it seems like the deal has gone from interest to a more advanced stage quickly, but overcoming the next hurdle could prove tedious for the Whites.

Muharemovic will have been given some time off after his nation's World Cup defeat before returning for pre-season with Sassuolo, meaning a decision will not be made until he reports for duty at the very earliest.

Leeds may have to stay patient for Muharemovic, as the words from Pope suggest a deal may not be done until late July or August, if at all.

Would Muharemovic be worth the wait?

Romano suggested that Leeds are pushing to seal the deal this week, though Pope has yet to receive information of it happening imminently.

It has the feeling that it could drag out a little longer than desired.

However, there's a reason that Muharemovic is so admired by the Whites, and all you need to do is look at his performance for Bosnia in their opening World Cup match against Canada.

He won 86 per cent of his duels in the air, as well as 75 per cent of them on the ground.

The defender showed brilliant awareness at the back, and the passion that would fit right in at Elland Road.

Let's hope Leeds can get a deal done soon.