and look set to be rebuffed in their attempts to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah with both the player and the club ruling out a January move, according to reports.
The 27-year-old came close to leaving Leverkusen in the summer and had a release clause of just £15million in his contract, though ultimately no clubs decided to activate it.
His suitors may be regretting that now, with the centre-back having started 12 times in the Bundesliga this season, helping his side climb to the summit of the table with an unbeaten record.
Tah’s performances have seen , with the Germany international only having 18 months left on his contract.
According to , Chelsea are also keen on the experienced defender and have ‘asked about the player’.
However, Leverkusen have ruled out selling Tah mid-way through the season while the player himself will not agitate for a move.
With Leverkusen performing so well under Xabi Alonso and competing for the Bundesliga title, as well as other competitions, Tah wants to stay and try to earn silverware at the club where he has spent the last eight years.
He is also not enamoured by the idea of swapping clubs mid-season, particularly with a home Euros taking place in Germany next summer – something he wants to be involved in.
That said, he is keen to test himself in the Premier League at some point and will explore his options at the end of the season when he will have just one year left on his contract.
Although Leverkusen have shown they can hang onto players – resisting a big bid for Edmond Tapsoba from Spurs in the summer – they are willing to let Tah go.
It will represent their last chance to cash in on the centre-back and they will look to receive around £21.5million.
United are thought to be in the market for a new centre-back due to doubts over Raphael Varane’s long-term future, with the veteran Frenchman linked with a move away in January after dramatically falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are conscious that and, despite already spending big on a selection of up-and-coming centre-backs, could look to sign someone new in January particularly if Trevoh Chalobah is offloaded.
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