Report: Jonathan Tah could be another January option in defense for Juventus
Today at 03:30 PM
The Leverkusen center back is a free agent next summer, but teams are already thinking of moving for him when the next transfer window opens.
Last January, Juventus and arch-rivals Inter went head-to-head for a center back who was nearing the end of his contract at his then-employer. Inter and transfer chief Beppe Marotta very much thought they had a deal with Tiago Djaló, only for Cristiano Giuntoli to swoop in and get a deal done in the present rather than try and get him on a free.
It looks as though Juventus and Inter are set for the same kind of situation this coming January as well.
According to Fabiana Della Valle La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday, Bayern Leverkusen center back Jonathan Tah could very much be a name in which Juventus and Inter duel it out for jn a couple of months. There is, however, a twist in all of this: Juve would want the 28-year-old Tah in January as they attempt to add some depth in defense following Bremer's (likely) season-ending knee injury a couple of weeks ago, while Inter in very typical Marotta fashion would try and reach a pre-contract agreement with the German international for a move on a free transfer to the San Siro over the summer.
Tah is the second center back linked with a potential January move to Juventus within the last week after former Inter defender Milan Škriniar, who would likely arrive on loan if Giuntoli can strike some sort of deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
Another catch in the potential pursuit of Tah is that Giuntoli and Juventus would have to sell somebody to be able to afford to bring in another player. Djalo, who is currently on loan at Porto, is a name floated out there by La Gazzetta dello Sport as somebody they could try and sell in January. Same goes for the only current "outcast" still left at Juventus — Brazilian midfielder Arthur, who has been rumored to be a potential January signing for Roberto De Zerbi at Olympique Marseille.
Tah, who was linked to Bayern Munich as a possible replacement for Matthijs de Ligt over the summer, has been a big part of Leverkusen's success the last two years. He first arrived at the club in 2015, and has played 33 and 31 appearances, respectively, the last two seasons. But with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2025 and a contract extension still not agreed upon, that could very much open the door for him to leave Leverkusen in the not-so-distant future.
But if that does happen, it could be in January or it could be come next summer. It could be Juventus, or it could be Inter. Or maybe Bayern swings back for target from this past summer. Either way, Tah is not lacking for suitors — which could very much push Gintoli and Juventus to try and get something done sooner rather than later.
