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 expires.
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 dominance.
He has also been a regular for the German national team, earning 35 caps.
His progression into one of the best central defenders has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.
Barcelona have long been considered Tah’s next destination, and a verbal agreement is reportedly in place between the two parties.
However, the deal has reportedly 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 a one-year contract extension for his astounding impact this season.
Since arriving on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao, Martinez has established himself as a cornerstone in the defence, helping Barca dominate across all competitions.
The futures of Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen, who are not preferred choices for Flick, are uncertain.
Given their well-documented financial crisis, Tah would be a perfect free transfer signing for the Catalan giants.
However, the Blaugrana have tackled their economic woes by prudently 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 he reportedly prefers a move to La Liga.
