Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah ahead of next season. Tah has featured 18 times for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga this season. The centre-back also has nine caps for Germany and he is expected to make the squad for the European Championship this summer.
According to Bild, the Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified the 24-year-old as the solution to his error-prone defense but must activate his £40m release clause to sign him. The defender’s current deal runs until 2023 and his release clause expires in June, so Arsenal will have to move quickly to get the deal sealed.
Tah has expressed his intention concerning his future with Leverkusen, saying: “There are several clubs that want me.
“I will speak with my agents and my parents at the end of the season and we will make the right decision.”
Arsenal is also targeting RB Leipzig center-back Dayot Upamecano ahead of next season. The Frenchman featured for the German side when they defeated Tottenham on Wednesday’s Champions leg round of 16 clash. Arteta’s side has been chasing the defender since last summer and is confident of landing him in the summer. The highly-rated 21-year-old has a £50million release clause in his contract and
Coach Arteta is desperate to add some steel to his backline after some defensive errors at the back which has cost the team some points this season. He, however, signed Pablo Mari on loan from Flamengo and Cedric Soares from Southampton in January to help reinforce his defense. The Gunners have the option to make the move permanent if the Spaniard impress at the Emirates.
Calum Chambers’ long-term injury and David Luiz’s inconsistency has fast-tracked the club’s search for a new defender. Also, the stuttering form of Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis – along with Rob Holding returning from a serious injury – has pushed the situation forward, prompting a need to act quickly to solve the defensive problem.
