Manchester United approach Jonathan Tah as talks stall in move for Matthijs de Ligt

Manchester United have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah over a proposed switch to Old Trafford this summer.

The Red Devils completed their first piece of transfer business at the weekend as Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee put pen to paper on a deal worth around £35.5million.

But United bosses, led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are determined to further strengthen before the transfer deadline on August 30 and are now prioritising a move for a central defender.

The Red Devils have been in talks to sign Matthijs de Ligt for some time and the 24-year-old centre-back is keen to push through a transfer to the Theatre of Dreams, where he would be reunited with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.

De Ligt has already agreed personal terms over a five-year contract in the north west. However, United are still yet to strike a deal with Bayern over a fee, with the Bundesliga giants demanding €50m (£42m) for the Netherlands international.

According to Sky Germany, United have therefore reached out to Leverkusen’s Tah in the event that they fail to reach an agreement with Bayern for De Ligt this summer.

To further muddy the waters for United, though, Bayern are also pursuing a deal for Tah but have so far come up short in their attempts to agree a deal with Leverkusen for the Germany defender.

The report claims Tah’s preferred destination is Bayern, with whom he has agreed a contract until 2029.

Tah has made over 350 appearances for Leverkusen since arriving from Hamburg in 2015 and was instrumental last season as Xabi Alonso’s side won the Bundesliga with a phenomenal undefeated record.

The sought-after centre-half has just one year remaining on his current contract at BayArena, meaning Leverkusen must decide whether to cash in on their prized possession this summer or risk losing him on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.

Tah stressed that he did not want to put Leverkusen in a position where he they would have to sell him for free when asked for an update on his future last month.

‘It is clear that I will have to make a decision at some point,’ he told Sky Germany.

‘I will either extend my contract or I should leave because the club doesn’t want to end up in a situation where a player leaves the club for free.’

Tah added: ‘I’m thinking about the right next step for me, whether I stay in Leverkusen or go elsewhere.

‘I don’t think it’s good to mention names of other clubs, but of course the next step should be the right one and feel good.’

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