- 15 hours ago
Chelsea 'open talks' to sign key Man Utd target
Robin Bairner
- 13 Nov 2024 01:46 CST
- 3 min read
Chelsea and Manchester United are on a crash course in the transfer market, with the two Premier League giants both set to target the same player.
Both Chelsea and Man Utd are seeking to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, who is available on a free transfer as of summer 2025.
Although formal discussions with the player can only begin in January, TBR alleges that both sides have already started to court the Bundesliga winner, who was one of Xabi Alonson’s stars last term.
Current ETV
Jonathan Tah
D (C)
Bayer 04
Jonathan Tah
D (C)
Bayer 04
ETV Range
€20.5M - €34.1M
The report states that “Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea believed to have spoken to intermediaries”.
All three clubs are in need of reinforcement at centre-back, though the need at Man Utd and Chelsea appears to be most acute.
New Old Trafford boss Ruben Amorim is set to change the profile of centre-back at the club, 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.
Tah on a free transfer would, therefore, be an attractive addition to the squad.
READ MORE: Amad to shine, Bruno to struggle - Ranking how Man Utd's stars will fit into Amorim's plans
Jonathan Tah: An attractive free agent
Tah, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €27.3 million despite his expiring contract, would be an unusual signing from Chelsea’s perspective because his age profile is so wildly different from their typical signings. He will turn 29 in February, with the Blues more typically signing players well before their peak years.
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.
Man Utd also want to sign younger players to their ranks but equally need the quality of their squad to be upgraded immediately and cheaply. To that end, Tah is a deal that makes a lot of sense to Amorim.
