Leeds United managed to avoid relegation to the Championship in their first season back in the Premier League earlier this year, and they have continued to build on that since.
The Whites had a strong summer transfer window when they brought in Harry Wilson, James Trafford, Tarik Muharemovic, Nico Elvedi, Michael Zetterer, Melvin Bard and Jean-Matteo Bahoya to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad.
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These signings, plus strong performances, have left Leeds unbeaten in their first five games this season, and they are currently in fifth place with 9 points before the teams prepare to return to action after the first international break.
Of these signings, none have gotten off to a quicker start than defender Tarik Muharemovic, who has become a regular part of Farke’s back three line after replacing Pascal Struijk, and who has recorded one goal and one assist along with his top performances.
The Bosnian defender arrived in a deal worth £34 million from Serie A club Sassuolo, despite strong interest from a number of other clubs in Europe. But his performances in the Premier League have seen many clubs continue to show interest, despite signing a deal that runs until 2031 at Elland Road.
One of those clubs is Bayern Munich, where the Bundesliga giant is planning an overhaul of its defence in 2027. Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah are the current first choices as centre-backs, but Kim Min-Jae and Hiroki Ito have struggled to establish themselves in Vincent Kompany’s squad and are expected to be sold.
That has led the German champions to plan a potential move for Muharemovic in 2027, and TEAMtalk even reports that he has been made their top target.
A January exit has been ruled out by Leeds, but a move next summer is not entirely out of the question, with the Whites putting a valuation of over £60m on the defender. They don’t want to sell, and don’t plan to do so, but a big bid could force their hand – and Bayern are a team that is known for getting what they want more often than not.
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Losing Muharemovic could be a fatal blow to Premier League status
Muharemovic has been a phenomenal signing so far, and has already received praise describing him as one of the best left-sided centre-backs in world football.
Signing him for £34 million in today’s market is a relatively small sum, and it’s a real feat considering the competition for his signature at the time. The plan has been to have him at Elland Road for the long term, with the 23-year-old likely to have the defence built around him for years to come.
But with Bayern Munich sniffing around, there might be nothing Leeds can do. It would be a chance for the defender to play regular Champions League football and win trophies – something Leeds can’t offer.
Should he leave the club, either mid-season or next summer, it would be a fatal blow to the squad and their hopes of staying in the Premier League for the long term. Replacing him will be incredibly difficult, and it doesn’t get any easier to convince top stars to join if they lose their best players.
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