Leeds United were away from the Premier League for 16 years before their promotion in 2020.

It was a long and arduous period but along the way, some cult heroes emerged. There were few better strikers in the EFL throughout that time than Jermaine Beckford.

The Championship has arguably not seen a player as classy as Pablo Hernandez. At the back, they had the warrior spirit of Pontus Jansson.

It's a pity he left for Brentford a year before Leeds sealed their place in the top flight. His qualities were perfect for the Premier League.

Why Leeds are putting together a team of modern-day Pontus Janssons

Under Marcelo Bielsa and the subsequent days of Jesse Marsch, it's safe to say that Leeds did not recruit well in the Premier League.

In 2020/21, they welcomed Rodrigo, Diego Llorente, Raphinha, Robin Koch and Illan Meslier to the club. In the winter, there was the infamous Jean-Kevin Augustin saga too.

Barring Raphinha, none of these signings were successful.

In the years preceding that first summer, they did not learn their lesson. Dan James and Jack Harrison both proved to be a waste of money, as did the likes of Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra.

So, when the Whites were promoted just over a year ago, they knew a different approach was needed. The Premier League used to be dominated by classy technicians, players like the aforementioned Hernandez.

Now, however, it is full of basketball players. Everybody is taller, everybody is more physical. This is one of the most intense leagues in the world.

What did they do, then? Well, after promotion, Daniel Farke wanted his signings to tick that box.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of the most physical strikers in the Premier League. In midfield, 6 foot 3 Anton Stach has proven to be a duel monster. Jaka Bijol is also a big, stocky presence.

It's allowed Leeds to compete with the Premier League's best and while they did flirt with relegation last term, all of their hard work behind the scenes is now paying off. During the international break, they sit fifth in the table. They are yet to lose a game.

Their recruitment this summer has played a key hand in that. Once again, Farke looked towards signing big players, players cut from a similar cloth as Jansson.

He wanted warriors, he wanted leaders and he wanted players who were not going to shy away from a duel.

Leeds' modern-day Jansson has arrived at Elland Road

Over the last year, Sunderland and Leeds have set the blueprint for any newly promoted side arriving in the Premier League as far as recruitment is concerned.

A year ago, their work in the transfer market was top-notch. This summer, the plaudits have to be handed to Farke and Co again.

Once more, he targeted physical specimens. 6 foot 2 Nicol Elvedi joined 6 foot 6 James Trafford and 6 foot 3 Tarik Muharemovic at Elland Road.

Trafford has proven to be an astute acquisition, settling into his new surroundings with absolute ease. Karl Darlow was no mug between the sticks last term, but in the former Manchester City man, they have signed a giant to take them to new heights.

That said, he's not their best signing. Muharemovic is. He's a modern-day Jansson if we ever did see one. He's a colossus at the back, he's got that Jansson-like warrior spirit. Simply, he ticks so many boxes. Left-footed and capable of contributing in the final third effectively too, there isn't a bad word we can say about the £34.1m signing.

It's rare Leeds get it right when they spend big money, but they have more than hit the jackpot here. This is a defender capable of scoring overhead kicks. Is there anything he can't do?

Well, as Brenden Aaronson outlined in pre-season, the answer to that question is no. He has been left blown away by the summer arrival.

The American said: "Oh, he is top! Everything that I have seen so far - top. I really, really enjoy the player that he is. He wants to play; he wants to get on the ball. He has got a great left foot and is not afraid to get into a challenge."

Aaronson continued: "I feel like he has got everything in a centre-back that you want."

Skipper Ethan Ampadu has also praised Muharemovic. He faced the big Bosnian in an international fixture for Wales and was left seriously impressed. The captain commented: "We could definitely see all of his quality. He's a young player with a lot of quality and potential."

That praise is certainly deserved. After all, in true Jansson-esque fashion, he tops the charts for a number of metrics this season.

No defender in the whole squad has registered more defensive contributions per 90 minutes than Muharemovic (11.6), while no player in the squad has made more interceptions per 90.

He's not just a Jansson-like brute at the back; he's also full of class. He's completed more long balls (3.2) than any of his teammates, while only fellow new signing Elvedi has completed more passes per 90.

He's such an accomplished player, someone who looks like they were tailor-made to be a Premier League defender.

Leeds fans won't like it, but if his performances continue in this manner, it will not be long before the big boys come calling.