Barcelona receive unexpected advantage as Bayern Munich drop interest in German star – ‘Not in our thoughts’ | OneFootball

Barcelona may have just received a major boost in their pursuit of Jonathan Tah, as Bayern Munich have effectively ruled themselves out of the race for the Bayer Leverkusen captain.

The German giants were seen as one of the main competitors for the centre-back’s signature, but their sporting director, Christoph Freund, has made it clear that they are not considering the defender as an option for next season.

“Tah’s name is not in our thoughts now. Our defence is at a high level and it is not something that is on Bayern’s table for next season,” Freund said about the transfer as reported by SPORT.

Barcelona are under control

For months, Barcelona have been working on securing a deal for Tah, despite already having several centre-backs in their squad. Now, with Bayern stepping back from the race, the Blaugrana could have a clearer path to finalising an agreement.

Bayern had previously explored the possibility of signing the German international and even held discussions with his representatives.

Bayern Munich are no longer interested in Jonathan Tah. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

However, it appears that the club is convinced that the player is looking for opportunities elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have been in talks with his agent, Pini Zahavi, for some time as well, but at the moment, no definitive agreement has been reached.

Sporting director Deco has acknowledged Tah as a player of interest but also pointed out that the club currently has enough options in defence.

The hurdle to solve

The main challenge now is finding space for Tah within the Barcelona squad. Unless there is a departure in the centre-back position, bringing him in could prove complicated.

Deco is keeping a close eye on the situation, and the club will likely wait to see if any opportunities arise to accommodate the defender.

Meanwhile, with Bayern out of the picture, Bayer Leverkusen are making a renewed effort to convince Tah to extend his contract. Even if a long-term deal is unlikely, they are reportedly trying to secure at least a short-term extension.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Tah remains a strong candidate for Barcelona’s defence next season.