Chelsea LEAD race for Bayer Leverkusen defender

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 17 Nov 2024 12:27 GMT
• 3 min read

Jonathan Tah is being linked to Chelsea as his contract runs down in Germany, according to reports.

The Premier League are thought to be the frontrunners in clinching the German's signature, per CaughtOffside. Their report revealed: "Tah is due to be out of contract with Leverkusen at the end of this season, and he’s technically free to start talking with clubs from abroad from January onwards, with Chelsea looking to beat their rivals to this deal.

It's thought that other clubs include Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid, with the centre-back able to sign a pre-contract agreement in January.

The 28-year-old won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season. They want to tie him down on a new contract but he is eager to move on from Xabi Alonso's side next year.

READ MORE: Amad to shine, Bruno to struggle - Ranking how Man Utd's stars will fit into Amorim's plans

Current ETV

Jonathan Tah

D (C)

Bayer 04

Jonathan Tah

D (C)

Bayer 04

€27.3M

ETV Range

€20.5M - €34.1M

View full profile

Although formal discussions with the player can only begin in January, TBR reported earlier this week that Premier League clubs are already in talks with the player's agents over a possible switch, citing United and Chelsea.

Tah linked to United

New Old Trafford boss Ruben Amorim is set to change the profile of centre-back at the club, it's thought. The former Sporting CP boss is seeking someone more mobile and comfortable on the ball than the options he finds at his disposal with the Red Devils.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are simply seeking additional quality as their options have not worked as they would have wished, with Wesley Fofana struggling to reach top gear after returning from serious injury while Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have not been good enough since joining from Monaco.

Securing Tah on a free transfer could be an enticing prospect for the squad. The centre-back, despite being in the final months of his contract, holds an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €27.3 million.

However, such a move would represent a significant departure from Chelsea's usual transfer strategy. At 28 and set to turn 29 in February, Tah's age places him outside the club's typical focus on younger, pre-peak talents. This shift in approach would mark a notable exception to their preference for developing players with long-term potential.

However, such a move might signal a shift to a more pragmatic approach at Stamford Bridge – something that could further elevate Enzo Maresca’s side