The FC Barcelona seems to have set its sights on a player who, at first glance, appears to be one of the major figures in the market and who has recently earmarked a date to begin clarifying his situation: the 28-year-old defender, Jonathan Tah. A player who has expressed his intention not to renew his contract with Bayer Leverkusen and, barring a drastic turn of events, will be available on a free transfer starting from June 30, 2025, when his contract with 'Die Werkself' expires.
Despite Barcelona seemingly enjoying a significant favoritism, it is evident that they are not the only team interested in the German defender's services. Reports have mentioned that Real Madrid is also pursuing him, a team that has recently faced defensive issues due to a spate of injuries, and Bayern Munich, a team in need of defensive improvements, making Tah an attractive option given his Bundesliga experience and the fact that he would arrive on a free transfer.
However, it cannot be ruled out that Bayer Leverkusen may try to profit from the player in this winter transfer window. According to various German sources, his price could be around €15 million, a tempting figure that could prompt any club to try to secure his services permanently in January to avoid competition for him in the future.
The date Jonathan Tah wishes to start defining his future
So, when will the fate of Jonathan Tah leaving Bayer Leverkusen be clarified? According to 'Mundo Deportivo,' the defender and his representatives have already set a date to begin defining the future of the Hamburg native. This source suggests that both the player and his camp hope to determine his future starting from next January.
It should be noted that Tah, being a player whose contract expires on June 30, 2025, and who has not yet renewed, can negotiate with any club interested in his services for free for the upcoming summer from January onwards. For this reason, that date has been set to steer the future of Jonathan, with the hope that by February at the latest, he can choose a new destination in his professional career, which, in addition to Leverkusen, has taken him to other clubs like Hoffenheim and Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Now, it remains to be seen whether, when deciding, Jonathan Tah will lean towards Barcelona, a team offering a very appealing sports project and with a coach he is familiar with, such as Hansi Flick. The German coach appears to be crucial in the negotiation. It is still uncertain whether Barcelona will also be able to meet the economic demands of the German defender, an aspect for which there is currently little clarity.