Although FC Barcelona currently have a surplus of center-backs, they have still been linked with Jonathan Tah, a defender emerging as one of the most attractive transfer options for next summer’s transfer window.
The €30m-rated German center-back has his contract with Bayer Leverkusen expiring at the end of this season, and he has already indicated that he will leave the German club at that point, as he looks to join a bigger team before entering the twilight of his career.
Signing Tah makes a lot of sense for every interested club. He will not cost a single Euro in fee, and his physical strength, towering stature, heading ability, build-up skills, and experience make him a very attractive target for every team.
However, as Mundo Deportivo has noted, there is one more reason why Barcelona will be interested in his signing. Although the Catalans have surplus center-backs in the squad at this point in time, three of these defenders have their contracts expiring in 2026, and another in 2025.
Inigo Martinez, who has been key for Hansi Flick since the start of the 2024-25 season, will see his contract expire at the end of this season unless he plays 60% of matches for at least 45 minutes. If this happens to be the case by the end of the season, he will get an automatic one-year extension.
Although he has been a leader in Flick’s backline up to now, it remains to be seen how much he will play when other defenders like Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen return from their injuries.
Furthermore, he is going to be 34 years of age in May, and Tah, currently 29 years old, will be a more attractive option from a future point of view.
Similarly, Araujo, Christensen, and Eric Garcia all have their contracts ending in 2026, and unless they can agree on a renewal before the next summer, Barcelona will put them on the market. Thus, Pau Cubarsi is the only defender in the team with his future secure, and Deco is looking to sign Tah as a long-term defender for the team.
