Jonathan Tah confirms Leverkusen exit amid Barcelona interest | OneFootball

Jonathan Tah has reiterated that he will not extend his contract at Bayer Leverkusen. (h/t Fabrizio Romano)

The German defender will be available as a free agent this summer when his current deal with the Bundesliga Champions runs out.

The 29-year-old has been a pivotal member of Leverkusen’s resurgence under Xabi Alonso, winning the Bundesliga last season to end Bayern Munich’s hegemony.

He has also been a regular for the German national team, earning 35 caps.

Tah has featured in 29 games this season, helping Leverkusen in their quest to retain the league title.

His growth as one of the best central defenders has drawn interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.

Barcelona have long been considered the next destination for Tah, with a verbal agreement reportedly in place between the two parties.

However, recent reports suggest that the deal has hit an impasse, leaving the transfer race wide open.

Barca manager Hansi Flick has identified Tah as his handpicked target to strengthen the defence.

The Catalan giants recently awarded Spanish defender Inigo Martinez with a one-year contract extension for his astounding impact this season.

Arriving on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao, Martinez has established himself as a cornerstone in the defence, helping Barca dominate across all competitions.

There is uncertainty surrounding the futures of Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen, who are not preferred choices for Flick.

Tah can be a perfect signing for the Catalan giants on a free transfer, given their well-documented financial crisis.

However, the Blaugrana have tackled their economic woes with their prudent strategy of signing the best free agents, such as Christensen and Martinez.

Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in Tah to revamp their defence, but the German defender reportedly prefers a move to La Liga.