Barcelona sporting director Deco’s sudden trip to Germany to meet Jonathan Tah and his representative earlier this week confirmed the club’s serious intent about signing the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back.
Tah’s contract with the Bundesliga champions expires on 30 June 2025, meaning he will be free to hold talks with any club from 1 January 2025.
There has been interest from other teams like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, but Barça are currently seen as the frontrunners to sign the 28-year-old.
Complications for Ronald Araujo?
However, according to AS, the interest in Tah brings significant complications for Barcelona’s defensive line, especially for Ronald Araujo, whose contract extension has been delayed and remains surrounded by many uncertainties.
If Barça manage to sign Tah, Araujo’s renewal will no longer be deemed essential as the German’s signing would boost the options at the back, following the rise of Pau Cubarsi and the likely continuation of Inigo Martinez – the established defensive pairing under Hansi Flick.
Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen, both hindered by injuries this year, also have contracts running until 2026, and have been touted as possible candidates to be sold if Tah arrives.
However, Araujo’s name is also now dragged into the mix, and it is at this point that the Blaugrana sporting director Deco will have to decide whether the Uruguayan’s renewal should still be a priority, as it was a few months ago.
The UCL tie against PSG last season, in which Luis Enrique exploited Araujo’s weaknesses in ball distribution, as well as his red card, and his injuries, have altered the club’s perspective on the second captain.
Furthermore, the Uruguayan has yet to debut under Flick, who has changed the club’s playing style. The coaches will also want to test Araujo in a defence so far from his own area, where coordination and tactical quality are key.
Not long ago, it was reported that Araujo and his agents had shown more willingness to negotiate, and his renewal seemed to be making progress. However, now in December, nothing has materialised.
And it remains to be seen if Tah’s potential arrival complicates matters further for Araujo.
