Barcelona take pole position for top defender after meeting with agent

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has a trio of top suitors in Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the Catalan giants have moved into pole position in the race for his signature. Tah is out of contract next summer, and can sign with another team on the first of January.

That was revealed by Relevo, after news broke on Thursday night that Barcelona Sporting Director Deco had met with Tah and his agent Pini Zahavi. Real Madrid have enquired about Tah, and Bayern moved for him in the summer, with Zahavi recently saying they have an excellent chance of signing him weeks ago, but the meeting with Deco went positively.

The possible opponents for Barça in the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey. @sport

– Pontevedra
– Barbastro
– UD Logroñés
– Deportiva Minera.

It will be a single leg, away from home. The draw will be held on Monday, December 9th. pic.twitter.com/M25txNOuro

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) December 6, 2024

While there is no agreement on a new contract, there is a good understanding between all parties, and Barcelona’s relationship with his agent is the key factor putting them ahead of others. Hansi Flick, who managed Tah for Germany, is also playing a key role in any potential move. The likelihood is that no deal is done before January, as Tah explores his options. Sport note that Bayern are the most realistic alternative but no decision has been made.

Barcelona currently have Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi and Jules Kounde in the centre-back department, albeit the latter has been used mostly as a right-back. Araujo and Christensen are out of contract in the summer of 2026, with the Blaugrana in talks over a new deal for the Uruguayan, while Martinez is likely to have his contract extended for next week.

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