Dominik Szoboszlai is poised to give Liverpool and their head coach, Andoni Iraola, a significant boost by signing a new long-term contract.

The Liverpool midfielder, the team’s best performer during a difficult final season under Arne Slot, has two years on his deal and mentioned several times last season that there had been no real progress over an extension.

After months of negotiations between Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, and Szoboszlai’s representatives, the terms of a new contract have been agreed in principle and the 25-year-old is close to signing the deal.

The Hungary captain has developed into a key figure for Liverpool since his £60m move from Leipzig in 2023 and scored 13 goals last season. He has been tipped as a future Liverpool captain, although last season’s comments about the contract had raised concerns over his long-term future.

Szoboszlai’s renewed commitment will be an important development for Iraola before his first season at Liverpool.

Leeds are close to reinforcing their defence after agreeing a £34m deal with Sassuolo for the Bosnia and Herzegovina centre-half Tarik Muharemovic. The transfer is being finalised, with no hitches envisaged.

The 23-year-old made three appearances at this summer’s World Cup and is poised to take the place of Pascal Struijk, who recently joined Brighton. Given that Muharemovic is, like Struijk, left-footed and was a regular starter for Sassuolo in Serie A last season, Daniel Farke regards the 6ft 4in former Juventus youth player as an ideal replacement.

The Leeds manager is also seeking to restock his goalkeeping department after the departures of Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier for Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.