Manchester United have set their sights on Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, who will be available as a free agent this summer, according to Florian Plettenberg. The 29-year-old is also at the top of Barcelona’s wishlist, with the Catalan giants already engaged in advanced negotiations, while Real Madrid remain closely attentive to the situation. However, United are hoping to steal a march by holding early talks with the player’s representatives.

Tah has been a pillar of Leverkusen’s backline since joining from Hamburger SV in 2015, evolving into a key figure under Xabi Alonso. He played an instrumental role in Leverkusen’s domestic double last season and remains a first-choice starter, having featured in 46 matches and accumulated over 4,100 minutes this campaign. Despite his importance to the team, Tah has informed the club that he will not renew his expiring contract, instead seeking a fresh challenge at a top European club.

Barcelona have long been viewed as the frontrunners to secure Tah’s signature, seeing him as a cost-effective solution to bolster their defence amid ongoing financial constraints. They are working hard to finalise a deal, but no agreement has been reached yet. This leaves the door open for both Real Madrid and Manchester United to make their moves.

Real Madrid are in need of defensive reinforcements due to persistent injuries throughout the season, while United are eyeing Tah to provide stability and experience at the back. With Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans expected to depart this summer, the Red Devils are keen to land the German international on a Bosman transfer.

Although Manchester United have initiated talks with Tah’s camp, they face stiff competition from two of Europe’s biggest clubs. Convincing the experienced defender to choose Old Trafford over La Liga heavyweights will be a significant challenge in the months ahead.