Leeds United have agreed a deal in principle for Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic, with the fee in the region of £34million - almost a club record.
**Leeds Live reported this week**that the Italian club were hoping for a £34m - or €40m - for the 23-year-old due to former club Juventus being entitled to a 50% sell-on fee. Sassuolo bought Muharemovic from Juventus last summer for around £1.7m.
All of Sunderland, Bournemouth and Newcastle United are known to have enquired about the Bosnia & Herzegovina international but Leeds have stolen a march. Contacts close to Sassuolo outlined on Monday that the Serie A outfit had expected an offer from Leeds to be tabled quickly.
Muharemovic, who is left footed, is expected to fill the hole left by Pascal Struijk following his initial £18m exit to Brighton & Hove Albion. The centre-back has played in a back four for the entirety of last season at Sassuolo and for Bosnia.
The 6ft 4in talent is set to become Leeds’ second-most-expensive transfer arrival in their history, only exceeded by Georginio Rutter’s £35.5m purchase from Hoffenheim in January 2023.
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Muharemovic played three games for Bosnia at this summer’s World Cup but missed his nation’s only win, against Qatar, after being sent off against Switzerland. He has 17 caps for his country.
Muharemovic is poised to become United’s second signing of the summer, following the free arrival of Harry Wilson. Leeds are meanwhile still in discussions with Southampton over midfielder Shea Charles.
Earlier on Tuesday, United confirmed that Karl Darlow had left the club upon the end of his contract, with the 35-year-old goalkeeper joining Manchester United.
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