Manchester United are set to battle it out against the Premier League champions Liverpool, with both clubs interested in a certain Bundesliga free agent.
Manchester United will be aiming to use the free agent market this summer, and there is one player they have already been heavily linked with who is set to leave his current club for free when the window opens.
Liverpool also have an interest in the player, who won the German title last season with Bayer Leverkusen, being a huge part of the team during the process. The player, who plays as a defender, is not expected to sign a new contract between now and the summer.
This has put United and Liverpool on high alert, as both clubs realise how big of a market opportunity something like the 29-year-old going on the market presents.
A defender is not expected to be a priority for Ruben Amorim this summer, but a chance to sign a free agent of this quality may be too big for the Portuguese coach and his recruitment team to turn down.
Manchester United and Liverpool in battle for Jonathan Tah
Manchester United are interested in Jonathan Tah, according to CaughtOffside, but they will face competition from their arch-rivals Liverpool for his signature. As previously mentioned, Tah is expected to leave Leverkusen this summer.
Tah is out of contract in June with his current club, with Manchester United and Liverpool not the only clubs interested in signing him. He is currently free to negotiate with any club, as he is in the final six months of his contract. Real Madrid have also registered an interest and could have an upper hand if Xabi Alonso becomes the next manager at the Bernabeu.
A departure for the player had already been confirmed by him weeks ago, with the club already under the impression he would leave. Tah said the following when speaking on his future recently.
“To be honest, I don’t have a timeframe. But the club knows about it. And it’s been the same as it has been all along”, as quoted by Sky Sports.
Manchester United are pretty well stocked in defensive areas, but with Lisandro Martinez’s recovery from his ACL injury currently unknown, another defender, particularly for free, is not to be passed up on.
Tah represents good value
Tah represents a clever market opportunity; by signing a player for free with the level of quality he has, even if he is to leave the club in three or four years, United will have turned over profit. The German has experience in a title-winning side while playing in a back three formation under Xabi Alonso.
United need to prioritise other positions, but a chance like this is what makes this signing even more enticing. Midfielders and forwards will be at the forefront of the mind of Amorim, but to secure a free agent like Tah early on will provide apt cover, especially if there are any late injuries on the pre-season tour.
Liverpool and Madrid will provide a decent battle in the race for the player, but the chance to be part of the resurgence at Old Trafford could be used as a ploy to sign the defender, with Raphael Varane’s move at a similar age a possible sign to point towards to lure Tah to Manchester.
It will be an interesting battle for the Leverkusen captain, but United are indeed in the mix as the window is close to opening.
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