Manchester United planning to hijack Bayern Munich’s move for Bundesliga-winning star defender
According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United have entered the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah.
The 20-time English champions are looking to sign at least two central defenders this summer as they look to improve defensively under Erik ten Hag, who was handed a contract extension until 2026 by INEOS. Apart from the club's interest in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and LOSC Lille’s Leny Yoro, the Red Devils are also pursuing Bayern Munich star Matthijs de Ligt.
Erik ten Hag is desperate to reunite with Matthijs de Ligt at Manchester United, having coached him at Ajax. However, the gap in valuation between Man United and Bayern Munich for the Netherlands international has seen them switch focus to another defensive target.
Florian Plettenberg claims that the Red Devils have made an enquiry for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, who interestingly is Bayern Munich’s No.1 defensive target. Bayern have been trying for weeks to find a breakthrough in a deal to sign Tah but there has been no progress.
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Man United are aware of the fact that there is no agreement between the two Bundesliga outfits for the Germany international. Tah, 28, played a massive role in Leverkusen’s maiden Bundesliga title triumph this past season. He scored six times in 48 appearances across all competitions, helping Xabi Alonso’s side win the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal and go the entire domestic season unbeaten.
The 28-year-old was a part of the German side that crashed out of the Euro 2024 quarter-finals at the hands of eventual champions Spain. Having decided not to extend his contract beyond 2025, Tah is keen on joining Bayern and is ready to run down his deal and leave on a Bosman transfer if Leverkusen do not sanction a sale this summer.
Bayern and Leverkusen are yet to agree on a fee for the German defender, which has given Man United an opening to swoop in. Raphael Varane’s release at the end of 2023/24 season and the recent departure of youngster Willy Kambwala to Villarreal means INEOS must replace them adequately in the squad.
As Ten Hag wants De Ligt as a priority to fortify his backline for the 2024/25 campaign, Man United enquiring for Tah appears to be a tactic to compel Bayern into lowering their valuation for the defender. As the Bavarians have already signed Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart and remain keen on bringing in Tah, De Ligt knows that he is about to go further down the defensive pecking order and thus wants to join Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
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Or perhaps, Ten Hag and Co. are genuinely interested in Tah and view him as an alternative to Branthwaite after failing with two bids to sign the Everton star. Who knows? Check out this space as our club’s chase for new centre-backs is going to only get interesting.