Chiellini guidance to Leeds 'rock' - could Muharemovic be signing of season?

"He did a tackle right in front of the South Stand and the whole place erupted. I was thinking, 'you're going to go down well with this club'."

Former Leeds United boss Simon Grayson is reflecting on the moment new signing Tarik Muharemovic endeared himself to fans on his Elland Road debut in a friendly against RB Leipzig in July.

The 23-year-old defender had just become Leeds' most expensive defender following a £34.1m move from Italian side Sassuolo, replacing the long-serving Pascal Struijk, who joined Brighton for £20m.

At the time, some supporters questioned the fee for a player with only one season under his belt in Europe's top leagues.

"He's the right profile but the price is a bit steep," wrote one after the signing of the 6ft 4in left-footed centre-back.

Another added: "Seems like another sensible addition although the fee is eye-watering."

Three months into a five-year contract and talk has quickly turned to how long Leeds can keep Muharemovic, such has been his impact since arriving from an impressive World Cup with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"Muharemovic has done that well that there will already be clubs looking at him, trying to nick him over the next few months," former Leeds United striker Lucy Ward told BBC Sport.

Jonny Buchan, presenter of the BBC's Don't Go To Bed Just Yet Leeds United podcast, added: "There could be a fear he is a one-year wonder with Leeds in that he does that well in the Premier League, raises his profile that much, that clubs will come for him."

There is already reported interest from Barcelona,, external Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in Muharemovic, who has earned praise for his no-nonsense approach to defending as well as his aerial presence at both ends of the pitch.

Grayson, who managed Leeds from 2008 to 2012, said he has proved a "rock-like" presence and a prolonged spell at Elland Road will benefit the player in the long run.

"I'm not daft enough to think he doesn't have aspirations to one day play for some of the biggest clubs in the world," Grayson told BBC Sport.

"But right now? Sometimes a player is at home with a certain club and I get that feeling with Muharemovic. I get the impression he loves Leeds, he loves the city and he loves the supporters."

The supporters have fallen for him too - and not just because of his passionate performances on the pitch.

After Leeds hammered Newcastle 4-1 in September, Muharemovic shouted into the TV cameras "United are back, United are back".

Dubbed 'The Bosnian Brick Wall' by fans, he has helped Leeds boast the second meanest defence in the Premier League behind defending champions Arsenal.

Muharemovic may not be the finished article, but will his name be in the conversation when the time comes to discuss the Premier League signing of the season?

Muharemovic's parents left Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Bosnian War, which took place between 1992 and 1995, to live in Slovenia and later moved the family to Austria.

It was there where he spent most of his childhood, but his family roots remained closely connected to Bosnian identity and language.

His professional debut came at the age of 18 for Wolfsberger in the Austrian Bundesliga in 2021.

After just six senior appearances he was snapped up by Italian giants Juventus, with Muharemovic going on to feature 57 times for their Next Gen side in Serie C, where Dean Huijsen, now at Real Madrid, was a team-mate.

Although he did not play a senior game for Juventus, he trained with the first team and learned from veteran Italy defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, who formed one of the most iconic defensive partnerships for over a decade, winning eight Serie A titles together for the 'Old Lady'.

"It's hard to become a first-team player at Juventus," said Muharemovic about his time in Turin.

"But when you train with them [Bonucci and Chiellini], they're the first ones who come to you, they're the first to tell you how to defend."

While at Juventus, Muharemovic made his senior Bosnia-Herzegovina debut at the age of 21 in a 3-0 friendly defeat by England at St James' Park shortly before Euro 2024.

After Juventus came Sassuolo, first on loan in 2024 and then permanently, with Muharemovic helping the team to a fine 11th place on their return to Serie A.

His talents extend beyond the pitch.

Muharemovic speaks Bosnian, German, English, Italian and Slovenian, while he frequently mentions his parents when he talks about his progress and the support he has received.

This season his father, Rasim, has been spotted standing with Leeds fans at home and away games.

"My dad loves it," said Muharemovic. "He comes to every game, every away game.

"In Italy he also went to all the home games and some of the away games, but I think this year he said he can't miss any of the Premier League games."