Pini Zahavi breaks silence on Jonathan Tah’s potential move to Bayern Munich

With less than 48 hours left in the transfer window, Bayern Munich have work to do as they look to trim their wage bill. There is significant interest from several clubs in Kingsley Coman. Bayern also remain interested in signing Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen.

Tah has been a transfer target for Bayern since the start of the summer. The Bavarian club agreed personal terms with the German international but couldn’t find an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen. At one point in the summer, Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen had a verbal agreement over a transfer package worth €30 million. However, the hierarchy at Bayern were not entirely convinced of sanctioning the transfer.

Despite not finding an agreement for Tah, Bayern decided to part ways with Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutch defender left Bavaria for Manchester United for €50 million (€45 million fixed and €5 million in bonuses).

Tah has no intention to sign a contract extension at Leverkusen after entering the final 12 months of his current deal. Bayer Leverkusen are open to approving a late move instead of losing him on a free transfer. While talking to Bild, Tah’s agent, Pini Zahavi, has put pressure back on Leverkusen to arrange a transfer. Zahavi insists that Tah wants to leave Leverkusen before the deadline day amidst interest from Bayern and FC Barcelona.

"There have been several offers in recent weeks, all of which have been rejected despite his desire to leave. We want to avoid a player as deserving as Jona leaving the club for free next summer. That's why we hope that we can find a solution in the short term that all parties can be happy with in the end."

- Pini Zahavi, Jonathan Tah's agent

Bayern need Coman sale to sign Jonathan Tah

Max Eberl has insisted that the squad at Bayern is ready for next season, but Christoph Freund has not ruled out further transfers. As per Bild, the supervisory board at Bayern is ready to sanction a move for Tah if they can raise funds by selling Coman.

The French winger has been linked with Liverpool, Al-Hilal, and Arsenal in the last 24 hours. Coman is ready to leave Munich after Bayern had put him on the transfer market. Die Roten are hoping to receive a fee for Coman, and his departure will make space for Jonathan Tah in the club’s wage bill. Bayern are well covered in the attacking positions, so they will not sign a replacement for Coman.

Bild has also reported that Bayern have contacted Bayer Leverkusen to express their desire to sign Jonathan Tah. Barcelona also remain in the mix, but there is a deal to be made for Die Roten since Tah has already given the green light for a move to Munich. The next 36 hours or so are going to be fascinating as Bayern leave it late to strengthen the defense.