Bayern Munich have reportedly been given an ultimatum over signing Jonathan Tah by Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen.
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Bayern linked with Tah transferLeverkusen want to keep defenderGerman rivals issued an ultimatumWHAT HAPPENED?
After winning the Bundesliga last season, Leverkusen centre-back Tah was linked with a move to Bayern – but for now, he remains at Xabi Alonso's side. states the 28-year-old has wanted to join the Bavarian outfit for quite some time but if there is no new offer for him by the weekend, he will stay at his current club.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Tah and his Leverkusen team-mates had a superb, nearly unbeaten season; winning the league and DFB-Pokal, and finishing as runners-up in the Europa League. With his success and the fact he is in the last year of his contract, the German international would seem ripe for the taking. But Leverkusen need to plan for the season ahead and with their title defence beginning in less than three weeks, they need to know where Bayern stand if they are to lose such a key player.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tah, who reportedlyrefused to extend his contract at Leverkusen, has made more than 350 appearances for the club over the years and manager Alonso wants him to stay for a while longer.
He told reporters last week:“I’m planning with Jona because he’s so important to us, on the pitch, but also off the pitch. That’s my idea at the moment. But I’m not turning a blind eye to the situation. We’ll see what happens. He’s fully focused, a top professional. I have no reason to complain.”
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Leverkusen continue their pre-season campaign with a match against Real Betis on Saturday, before taking on Stuttgart in the DFL-Supercup seven days later. They begin their Bundesliga defence away at Monchengladbach on August 23. It remains to be seen if Tah will still be at the club by then.