Leeds United Credit: Imago
Leeds United are on the verge of completing the biggest signing of the 49ers era, with Tarik Muharemovic expected to finalise his move to Elland Road in the coming hours.
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The Whites have backed Daniel Farke in a big way, agreeing to pay Sassuolo £34m to secure the services of the 23-year-old Bosnian centre-back.
Muharemovic has also agreed a lucrative five-year contract and is set to become Leeds’ highest-paid player once the final paperwork is completed and the deal is officially confirmed.
Leeds signed Harry Wilson on a free transfer earlier in the window and would be keen to take up more such market opportunities due to their limited budget.
The Whites decide on another free transfer deal
Leeds signed Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on free transfer deals last summer, and repeated the trick with Harry Wilson a year later.
They have made a big financial commitment for Muharemovic’s signature, and are pushing to secure a deal to sign Southampton midfielder Shea Charles.
Leeds still need to sign one more centre-back, if Sebastiaan Bornauw leaves, a striker and two goalkeepers, if Lucas Perri succeeds in his attempts to leave Elland Road.
Naturally, Leeds would be looking for at least one more free transfer deal. However, they won’t be signing a free agent who has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road.
According to sources speaking exclusively to The Leeds Press, the club are unlikely to rekindle their interest in former Sporting Lisbon midfielder Hidemasa Morita.
The 31-year-old midfielder left the Portuguese giants at the end of last season, and has been keen to move to Leeds this summer.
He has rejected offers from several clubs, including from the Middle East, and has been waiting for the Whites to formalise an offer for him.
However, Leeds won’t be approaching him, as despite his experience, he is not the profile of midfielder Daniel Farke is looking for this summer.
Leeds looking beyond Hidemasa Morita
The 31-year-old has bags of experience and played in the Champions League for Sporting Lisbon. He made a lot of sense earlier in the transfer window.
However, Daniel Farke seems to have identified Shea Charles as his top target, and Leeds are confident of finalising a deal to sign the midfielder this summer.
For players with top-level experience, Leeds are prioritising a move for former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt on a free transfer.
Morita may be keen to move to Elland Road, but Leeds have moved on from him and are looking at other targets.