JUST IN: Bayern Munich gains a significant advantage as Bayer Leverkusen gives up trying to retain Jonathan Tah after the defender declines to sign a contract extension with the Bundesliga winners and…
Bayern Munich have reportedly got a shot in the arm in their pursuit of Jonathan Tah as he has refused to sign an extension with Bayer Leverkusen.
According to Sky, Leverkusen are ready to negotiate a sale for Tah who has turned down an extension offer from the reigning champions. His current deal runs until 2025 and the defender is ready to see out his contract and leave for free next summer if Leverkusen do not sanction a sale in this transfer window.
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Bayern are ready to shell out between €20 million (£17m/$21m) and €25m (£21m/$27m) for the defender, which is significantly lower than Leverkusen’s initial valuation of €40m (£34m/42m) to €45m (£42m/54m). Despite this discrepancy, both clubs are reportedly moving closer to a mutual agreement. Leverkusen’s willingness to lower their asking price indicates a pragmatic approach to avoid losing Tah on a free transfer next year.
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Bayer Leverkusen’s officials have made it clear that they will not allow Tah to leave on a free transfer. As CEO Fernando Carro emphasised in April, the club is committed to either extending contracts or selling players to avoid financial losses.
In an interview with Sky90, Carro said: “We are a club that will not give away players on a free transfer. That means we have to extend the contract, otherwise, we will sell him.”
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Bayern have already strengthened their central defence with the addition of Hiroki Ito. Nonetheless, Ito’s arrival does not diminish the club’s interest in Tah, indicating that Bayern are keen on bolstering their defensive lineup with multiple high-calibre players after a trophyless 2023-24 campaign.
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At 28, Tah is at a prime age for a central defender, combining experience with athletic prowess, making him an ideal candidate for Bayern’s ambitions. A five-year contract is allegedly waiting for Tah in Munich if the deal goes through. Amid the ongoing negotiations, Tah is focused on his duties with Germany at Euro 2024 and hopes that his team-mates will do enough to overcome Denmark in the round of 16 as he will miss the clash due to a yellow card suspension.
