Inter Milan plot to hijack Barcelona deal for €30 million-rated defender – report | OneFootball

Barcelona have been working on a deal to sign Jonathan Tah for free in the summer for a long time now.

The 29-year-old’s contract with Bayer Leverkusen expires at the end of the season and for a while now, Catalonia seemed to be his next destination.

However, there have been growing doubts about the move with Barça facing Fair Play issues and being well-stocked in the defensive department.

As such, reports earlier this week suggested that Real Madrid could swoop Tah away from the Catalans even though the latter have a verbal agreement with them.

Inter Milan also attempting a hijack

Now, according to Calciomercato, Inter Milan have also shown a strong interest in Jonathan Tah and could make an attempt to lure him away from Barcelona in the summer.

The Italian giants, aware of the need to bolster their defence to maintain competitiveness in Europe, has begun moving decisively in the transfer market.

Jonathan Tah is a man in demand. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Although Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi could remain for another year, the Nerazzurri management is working to secure new players capable of maintaining the high standards that have characterised the team in recent seasons.

Tah, as such, has emerged as a major market opportunity they are not willing to miss.

The 29-year-old German international’s profile fits perfectly with Inter’s plans: international experience, defensive solidity, and, crucially, the possibility of arriving on a free transfer – a key factor in a market where defenders’ prices have soared.

Although his move to Barcelona once seemed only a matter of time, talks with the Catalan club have cooled in recent weeks, opening the door for other suitors like Inter.

The competition promises to be tough, and Barça know that if they do not speed up their negotiations, they could see one of their desired reinforcements end up wearing the Nerazzurri shirt next season.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.