Man Utd forced to wait on Harry Maguire successor

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 4 Dec 2024 15:36 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United have opened talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre back Jonathan Tah but won't be able to bring him to Old Trafford in January.

According to GiveMeSport, Bayer Leverkusen will not sell Tah during the January transfer window and will instead let him leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Tah is available on a free transfer at the end of the season having decided to run down his contract with Leverkusen.

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It has been reported for several weeks that United have begun negotiations with the entourage of the Euro 2024 star. The defender is seen as the ideal replacement for Harry Maguire, who is expected to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.

But GMS report that Leverkusen won't sanction a mid-season sale even if it means they lose out on a transfer fee.

Xabi Alonso believes that losing Tah would have a devastating impact on their current season.

GMS adds that there are a host of other big clubs who want to sign Tah at the end of the season and that Bayern Munich remain the favourites over United.

Tah had been expected to join Bayern Munich this past summer but agreed to stay at Leverkusen for one more season.

Tah played a key role in Leverkusen’s historic season last term as they won the Bundesliga unbeaten, and also lifted the DFB Pokal before just missing out on the treble by losing the Europa League final to Atalanta.

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Tah at Bayer Leverkusen

Tah is currently completing his tenth year at Bayer Leverkusen, having joined the club from Hamburg in 2015.

He has since made over 350 appearances for Leverkusen, winning three trophies and being named in one Bundesliga Team of the Season and three Europa League Teams of the Season.

He has won 33 caps for the Germany national team and he partnerred Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the defence at Euro 2024 before they were eliminated by eventual winners Spain in the quarter-finals.

He was also in Germany’s squad for Euro 2016 where they were knocked out by France in the semi-finals.