Four big transfer Leeds United questions have been answered amid £34m Tarik Muharemovic agreement — Leeds Live 15/7/26

Leeds United have been proactive but more market movement will be seen after the end of this week

Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter

Today marks a month since the Premier League summer transfer window opened and Leeds United have been active.

The bulk of dealings is expected to be truncated into the next six weeks and indeed the market as whole is set to accelerate after the World Cup final on Sunday. Yet Leeds have not been waiting around for the game of Tetris to be ignited by others.

Given last summer's near-capture of Harry Wilson, where papers were signed and a deal sheet was readied before Fulham pulled out at the eleventh hour, United will have been confident of landing the attacker this year.

His free arrival has widely been seen as a coup for Leeds, some even left astonished. He remains the only new arrival so far, though Leeds are seen as frontrunners in the race for Shea Charles.

This documented chase has started to bore some supporters, but this is something fans will need to get used to. Chairman Paraag Marathe says the bar has been raised and that means better quality talents will be targeted - and therefore a harder bargain will be driven by parent clubs.

This in turn curates protracted negotiations and the inevitable consequence of bidding wars breaking out. While Leeds admire Charles, they are unafraid to walk away if they feel talks are heading nowhere.

They will also have their price limit on the 22-year-old and any other target they pursue. However, that is not to say will not be punchy. Leeds have agreed a deal in principle - around £34m - for Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic, batting off competition from Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Sunderland.

Meanwhile, there has at least been clarity in two areas within the current squad, even if the ideal outcome has not been realised.

Both Pascal Struijk and Karl Darlow were offered new deals, but both turned their backs to join other clubs, albeit in differing circumstances. Struijk made it clear, upon being offered a bumper increase in renewal terms, that he wished to leave.

Brighton & Hove Albion, the only club in for the defender, agreed an £18m deal that could rise to £20m, which meant Leeds - aided by the money brought in from their FA Cup semi-final run and 14th-place Premier League finish - managed to stay within spending limits.

This summer was always due to be a crossroads for Struijk, who had a year left on his deal, and now Leeds can move forward and look at potential replacement options such as Muharemovic.

Leeds were always expected to dip into the market for a new goalkeeper this summer, but Darlow’s decision not to pen a renewal means the need for a fresh arrival is pressing. Part of his decision was due to the fact that the club could not guarantee him the No.1 jersey.

It seems naturally evident that a new starter will be sought, and then comes the call on whether to convince Lucas Perri to stay as No.2 or allow him to leave once a new signing is secured, and seek out a new back-up.

Alex Cairns signed a new contract this month, but is seen as a reserve option to help meet the homegrown quota. Links between Perri and Torino have emerged, but as of early this week, no talks had been staged and it would seem foolish to allow any such circumstance given the current goalkeeper depth.

Japan and Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki is a name on Leeds' consideration list, but no approach has been made. Defence and 'keeper are obvious priority areas for the club but there are others positions, such as striker and back-up left-back, that need filling.

The new Squad Cost Ratio finance rules leave Leeds with marginally tighter spending limits in the short term and they must cut their cloth accordingly, choosing which players they are willing to go the extra mile for.

More sales will help and that seems bound to happen given Marathe's admission that fans should expect exits. Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto have checked in for pre-season, but both, particularly the former, are expected to receive offers.

Sam Byram, meanwhile, has yet to sign a renewal, with the club holding talks about him staying on but his exit would not bring any cash given he is currently a free agent following the expiry of his Leeds deal a fortnight ago.

A deal for fellow free agent Julian Brandt is still being explored but there has been little in the way of any further information on that front. And all the while, Daniel Farke has not signed a contract renewal as he enters the final year of his current contract.

For now, regarding players, there is little need for frustration when it comes to movement either way given transfer deadline day is as far away as September 1. If anything, a number of important questions have already been answered, starting with the contract renewal of Ethan Ampadu before the window opened.

But Leeds will want to see even more breakthroughs before too long. They look set to fly off for their pre-season tour to the USA with only two senior goalkeepers with it unclear whether the deal Muharemovic will be done in time for the first friendly.

By the time they play the first summer warm-up against Wrexham - on July 25 - there will be less than four weeks until the first game of the Premier League season.