Leeds United may have found their next defensive leader in Tarik Muharemovic, with the summer signing quickly becoming one of the most important players in Daniel Farke’s team.
The 23-year-old arrived at Elland Road from Sassuolo for a reported £34m fee during the summer transfer window, with Leeds looking to strengthen their defence after returning to the Premier League.
It did not take long for Muharemovic to make an impression.
After just three Premier League games, the Bosnia international is already showing the qualities needed to become a long-term starter for Farke. His performances have been calm, aggressive and reliable, while his ability to play out from the back has also added another dimension to the Leeds defence.
His latest display came in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, where he produced one of his strongest performances since arriving in West Yorkshire.
While Ao Tanaka attracted plenty of attention for his excellent midfield performance and assist for Jayden Bogle’s goal, Muharemovic quietly produced an equally important display at the other end of the pitch.
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Muharemovic showing why he should be undroppable
Leeds have had several strong centre-backs throughout their history, but few have had the popularity and influence of Pontus Jansson.
The Swedish defender became a huge favourite among supporters during his time at Elland Road. He was not only strong in the tackle and dominant in the air, but also comfortable enough with the ball to help Leeds build attacks from defence.
His numbers during the 2018/19 Championship campaign under Marcelo Bielsa showed that balance.
| Pontus Jansson – 2018/19 Championship | Statistic |
| Games | 39 |
| Duels won | 60% |
| Pass completion | 86% |
Muharemovic is now showing signs that he could develop into a similar type of defender for Farke.
The former Sassuolo player has taken his opportunity after coming into the starting XI ahead of Pascal Struijk. Rather than looking like a player still adapting to English football, Muharemovic has looked comfortable in the Premier League from the start.
His performance against Brighton was particularly impressive.
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| Tarik Muharemovic vs Brighton | Statistic |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Defensive contributions | 13 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Clearances | 9 |
| Blocked shots | 1 |
| Duels won | 6/11 |
| Fouls committed | 0 |
Those numbers show just how important he was to Leeds during the game.
Muharemovic made nine clearances, which was the highest figure among Leeds’ three central defenders. He also recorded the most defensive contributions, helping the visitors deal with Brighton’s attacking pressure.
The fact that he completed the match without committing a foul also shows the control he had over his defensive work.
For a young centre-back playing in the Premier League, that is a very encouraging sign.
Leeds may have found another long-term leader
What makes Muharemovic particularly exciting is that his game is not only about defending.
The Bosnia international has also shown that he can remain composed when he has possession, which is becoming increasingly important for modern centre-backs.
Across his first three Premier League matches, his numbers with the ball have been strong.
| Tarik Muharemovic – First 3 Premier League games | Statistic |
| Ground duels won | 69% |
| Pass completion | 82% |
| Pass completion in own half | 93% |
An 82% passing rate is a good return for a central defender, while completing 93% of his passes in his own half shows the confidence he has when starting moves from the back.
That quality gives Farke another option when Leeds are trying to play through pressure.
It also helps explain why Muharemovic’s performances have been so important to the team. His defending allows players such as Tanaka, Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu to concentrate more on progressing the ball and creating attacks.
Tanaka was excellent against Brighton, completing all of his attempted dribbles and creating the assist for Bogle’s goal. He also won all four of his ground duels and produced three clearances during his 73 minutes on the pitch.
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| Ao Tanaka vs Brighton | Statistic |
| Minutes played | 73 |
| Pass accuracy | 78% |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Dribble success | 100% |
| Duels won | 4/4 |
| Clearances | 3 |
Tanaka’s rise is also a good example of how Farke rewards players who perform.
The Japan international started only four of Leeds’ opening 11 Premier League games last season before finishing the campaign with seven consecutive starts. He has now developed into an important part of the midfield and looks ready to play a much bigger role.
That should be a warning to the rest of the Leeds squad.
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Gnonto’s exit sends a clear message
Wilfried Gnonto’s deadline-day loan move to Fiorentina is another example of Farke making decisions based on performances.
The Italian forward had previously been an important player for Leeds in the Championship, scoring 18 goals across two seasons. However, he could not produce the same level of impact in the Premier League last season, failing to score in 23 appearances.
His move to Fiorentina could now become the beginning of the end of his Leeds career.
The situation is very different from Tanaka and Muharemovic.
Tanaka has improved his position through consistent performances, while Muharemovic has immediately shown Farke that he can be trusted at Premier League level.
That is why the £34m defender should now be viewed as one of the first names on the Leeds team sheet.
There is still plenty of football to be played this season, and Muharemovic will face much tougher tests as the campaign continues. However, his early performances suggest Leeds have made an excellent investment.
If he continues defending with the same aggression while keeping his composure in possession, it will become increasingly difficult for Farke to leave him out.
Leeds supporters will also hope that he can build the same connection with the fans that Jansson once enjoyed.
It may be too early to put Muharemovic in the same category as the Swedish cult hero, but the early signs are certainly encouraging.
For now, one thing is becoming clear: Leeds appear to have found a centre-back who is very difficult to drop.
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