Barcelona set to beat Bayern Munich in the race for center-back target | OneFootball

Bayern Munich have been long-time admirers of Bayer Leverkusen center-back Jonathan Tah. After failing to reach an agreement with Leverkusen for the player last summer, Bayern wanted to sign him on a free transfer at the end of this season, However, it now appears the 28-year-old is on track to join La Liga giants FC Barcelona as a free agent at the end of the season.

According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, FC Barcelona are in advanced talks to sign Jonathan Tah for a free transfer in July 2025. The negotiations are progressing well between the club and the player’s camp with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also being involved in the discussions. Flick had previously coached Tah during his brief stint as the German National Team coach. While Bayern are still interested in the player, it is clear that Barca are leading the race now and will most likely end up signing the German defender for free.

Bayern had a hard time negotiating with Leverkusen for Jonathan Tah last summer and eventually the transfer fell through because a fee couldn't be agreed between the two clubs. Tah, still keen on joining the Rekordmeister didn’t sign an extension at Leverkusen, is determined to leave Leverkusen in 2025.

Barcelona joined the race for Leverkusen’s captain earlier this season and showed more promptness to sign the player than Bayern. It could be that Bayern have changed their transfer plans for next season and the signing of Tah is no longer a priority, or it could be that the Catalan club have simply presented the better offer on the table.

Other options for Bayern include young center-backs

With Eric Dier set to leave the club next summer, Bayern are still looking to sign at least one center-back. While it may not be the signing of an experienced leader like Tah, the club could be willing to invest in a young prospect.

Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande has been closely scouted by Bayern in the past. Although only 21, the Ivorian International has been a crucial player for Sporting Lisbon for the past couple of years. Antonio Silva, 21, of Benfica is another talented centre-back on FC Bayern’s radar. He may not, however, be a cheap option as the player reportedly has a release clause worth €100 million in his Benfica contract. Die Roten’s centre-back budget will heavily hinge on their other transfer plans for the summer with a major attacking signing also on the horizon.