"He did a tackle close successful beforehand of the South Stand and the full spot erupted. I was thinking, 'you're going to spell down good with this club'."
Former Leeds United brag Simon Grayson is reflecting connected the infinitesimal caller signing Tarik Muharemovic endeared himself to fans connected his Elland Road debut successful a affable against RB Leipzig successful July.
The 23-year-old defender had conscionable go Leeds' astir costly defender pursuing a £34.1m determination from Italian broadside Sassuolo, replacing the long-serving Pascal Struijk, who joined Brighton for £20m.
At the time, immoderate supporters questioned the interest for a subordinate with lone 1 play nether his loop successful Europe's apical leagues.
"He's the close illustration but the terms is simply a spot steep," wrote one aft the signing of the 6ft 4in left-footed centre-back.
Another added: "Seems similar different sensible summation though the interest is eye-watering."
Three months into a five-year contract and speech has rapidly turned to however agelong Leeds tin support Muharemovic, specified has been his interaction since arriving from an awesome World Cup with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"Muharemovic has done that good that determination volition already beryllium clubs looking astatine him, trying to nick him implicit the adjacent fewer months," erstwhile 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 beryllium a fearfulness helium is simply a one-year wonderment with Leeds successful that helium does that good successful the Premier League, raises his illustration that much, that clubs volition travel for him."
There is already reported involvement from Barcelona,, external Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan successful Muharemovic, who has earned praise for his no-nonsense attack to defending arsenic good arsenic his aerial beingness astatine some ends of the pitch.
Grayson, who managed Leeds from 2008 to 2012, said helium has proved a "rock-like" beingness and a prolonged spell astatine Elland Road volition payment the subordinate successful the agelong run.
"I'm not daft capable to deliberation helium doesn't person aspirations to 1 time play for immoderate of the biggest clubs successful the world," Grayson told BBC Sport.
"But close now? Sometimes a subordinate is astatine location with a definite nine and I get that feeling with Muharemovic. I get the content helium loves Leeds, helium loves the metropolis and helium loves the supporters."
The supporters person fallen for him excessively - and not conscionable due to the fact that of his passionate performances connected the pitch.
After Leeds hammered Newcastle 4-1 successful September, Muharemovic shouted into the TV cameras "United are back, United are back".
Dubbed 'The Bosnian Brick Wall' by fans, helium has helped Leeds boast the 2nd meanest defence successful the Premier League down defending champions Arsenal.
Muharemovic whitethorn not beryllium the finished article, but volition his sanction beryllium successful the speech erstwhile the clip comes to sermon the Premier League signing of the season?
- Image caption,
Image source, Getty Images
Muharemovic celebrates scoring for Sassuolo successful 2024 portion wearing a wristband successful the colours of the Bosnia-Herzegovina flag
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