Leeds United have made a solid start to the Premier League, and their new signing’s performance has been key to their early success.
James Trafford has made a huge impression between the sticks for Leeds, and his 20 saves in the first five Premier League games have put him at the top of the league’s goalkeepers.
Nico Elvedi has added experience and know-how to the Leeds squad and has now allowed Joe Rodon’s injury to impact the club’s backline this season.
Harry Wilson is expected to come good later in the season, but one Leeds signing has turned heads and earned the recruitment team huge praise.
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Lukas Radebe stunned by Leeds United signing
Michael Bridges has revealed there was excitement around Tarik Muharemovic during pre-season, and he impressed his teammates early.
The former White claimed Leeds players were gushing about the centre-back’s ability on the ball, but said the real praise came from ex-Leeds star Lukas Radebe.
He claimed that the Leeds legend was blown away by what he saw from the defender during pre-season in the United States.
Bridges said on LUTV: “You know you’ve got a good player as well when we were in pre-season in America and I was chatting with a few of the boys in and around the squad, saying, ‘What’s the new players like in training?’ The boys just said, ‘Tarik, on the ball, unbelievable defender. Reads the game so well.’
“So when you hear your peers say that about you, and then we [Lucas Radebe and Bridges], were watching him for the first game, and I’m no defender, so I’m looking at Lucas for some insight.
“I just saw the chief, and he went, ‘Oh, player.’”
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Tarik Muharemovic is the real deal
The defender looks like a proper like-for-like replacement for Pascal Struijk, and more of an upgrade on the former Leeds centre-back.
He has seamlessly emerged as the team’s defensive leader and become irreplaceable in a very short period. The £34m fee now looks like a steal, given he is emerging as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.
However, Leeds need to be careful as a player of his profile will attract the attention of clubs with bigger pockets, both in the Premier League and Europe.
If Muharemovic continues to impress, Leeds will have to find out quickly how to keep him away from the clutches of rich clubs both home and abroad.
