Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who reportedly has a release clause of €40 million.
According to SportBild, Arsenal are serious about signing a new defender in the upcoming summer transfer window. And they have now set their sights on Jonathan Tah.
The Bayer Leverkusen star reportedly has a release clause of €40 million that can be activated after the end of the season. His future at the club apparently depends on whether or not Leverkusen manage to qualify for the Champions League next season, thus putting Arsenal on high alert.
However, the Gunners could face stiff competition from Atletico Madrid, which is understandable as a fee of just €40 million is pretty cheap for a player of Tah’s calibre.
Indeed, the German international is regarded as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga and is expected to play a key role for his country in the upcoming European Championships in the summer.
Arsenal, on the other hand, will be keen on bolstering their defensive department. They have conceded 34 goals in the Premier League this season – a tally only exceeded by Everton and Chelsea in the top half of the table.
Experienced centre-backs like Sokratis and David Luiz have failed to consistently provide solidity in the backline and have made numerous defensive errors throughout this season. While Arsenal brought in Pablo Mari in the winter transfer window, the Spaniard is yet to feature in a single game.
With Luiz nearing the final phase of his career, Tah could be an apt long-term replacement for the Brazilian. As mentioned earlier, the Leverkusen star is one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga. But more importantly, he has a considerable amount of experience at the highest level of football, having made 168 competitive appearances for Die Werkself.
Tah is also one of the tallest defenders in the Bundesliga, standing at 1.95m. It gives him a considerable advantage in the air whilst also making him an intimidating presence at the back. Hence, he can certainly add that imposing presence and aerial solidity in the Arsenal defence.
Moreover, the German international has improved as a passer over the years. Although he may not be as clinical as someone like Mats Hummels and Virgil van Dijk, he could certainly be an upgrade over Sokratis or Shkodran Mustafi in terms of ball distribution.
That being said, it won’t be an easy task for Arsenal getting their hands on Tah. The Bayer Leverkusen star is sure to attract interest from clubs across Europe should the club actually fail to qualify for the Champions League. Nevertheless, Tah should definitely be identified as a transfer priority for Arsenal this summer.
