Bayern Munich's defender, who was sought after to replace Kim Min-jae, is still cautiously dreaming of a move to Spain.

On the 17th (Korean time), Martin Plattenburg, a reporter for Germany's Sky Sports, noted, "Jonathan Tah still prefers a transfer to FC Barcelona over Bayern Munich despite the current situation," adding, "The player wants to hold out as much as possible and is keen to be coached under Hans Flick."

On the 14th, European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported, "The official offer Bayern Munich presented to Jonathan Tah has received full internal approval from the club." Tah, standing at 195 cm, excels in aerial prowess and, despite his large build, shows quick footwork in one-on-one defensive situations against attackers.

Tah has received the favor of coach Xabi Alonso. Since the 2015-2016 season, Tah has played solely for Bayer Leverkusen, leading the team to its first league title in its history and the Bundesliga's first unbeaten season in 2023-2024, establishing himself as a top-tier center-back. In this context, Bayern Munich previously showed interest in him.

Last April, Germany's Sky Sports reported, "According to our investigation, Bayern is targeting Tah for acquisition. Bayern has been deeply impressed by his performance this season. He can play in both a three-back and four-back setup. Additionally, he is among the fastest defenders in the Bundesliga."

Initially, a move to FC Barcelona seemed likely for Tah. Reports indicated that personal agreements between the player and the club had already been concluded. However, the situation suddenly changed. Barcelona found itself unable to complete the acquisition of Tah due to financial issues, leading to a swift change of circumstances that resulted in a move to Bayern.

In April, coinciding with that report, Tah revealed that he would leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. The Athletic stated, "If the contract is finalized, a three-year deal with Bayern is expected to be concluded, including an option for an additional year." The recent home match against Borussia Dortmund (a 2-4 loss) marked his last home game at Leverkusen. After the game, Tah took the microphone and bid farewell to the home fans.

According to Germany's Bild, he reportedly said, "On one hand, I'm heartbroken, and on the other hand, I'm excited for the new journey ahead." He added, "I am deeply grateful for the love and support the fans have shown me over the past 10 years." Earlier, The Athletic reported on the 13th that negotiations were progressing for Tah to join Bayern Munich as a free agent this summer when his contract with Bayer Leverkusen expires.

The media reported, "Bayern has been pursuing center-back reinforcements following Eric Dier's transfer to AS Monaco this summer. Tah, the vice-captain of Leverkusen, has played a total of 401 matches at BayArena over the past 10 seasons. Notably, he played a key role in achieving the treble, including the Bundesliga's unbeaten championship in the 2023-2024 season."

On the 14th, Romano stated, "The official offer Bayern presented to Tah has been finalized to the point of internal approval, including salary conditions. Now, the final key step is the player's decision. If Tah accepts, the transaction will be finalized. The ball is in Tah's court."

By bringing in Tah to replace Dier, Bayern will establish a core trio of defenders consisting of Kim Min-jae, Dayot Upamecano, and Tah. While there is a position that Kim Min-jae could be sold depending on circumstances, at this point, retaining him is being considered more likely. However, German media have suggested that Kim Min-jae may be sold.

Christian Falk, a reporter for Germany's Bild, previously reported, "Within Bayern Munich, there is a reaction that expresses disappointment regarding the results compared to what was expected when signing Kim Min-jae. Kim Min-jae is currently taking the club's internal evaluations and criticisms seriously," adding that, "Once a specific offer arrives, the club is considering the possibility of a sale, with a benchmark of €50 million (approximately 78.1 billion won)."

Germany's Transfermarkt speculated that in the next season, Tah and Upamecano would start as regulars, and Kim Min-jae would be sold. Additionally, on the 14th, German media Sport Bild reported, "Kim Min-jae is no longer an 'untouchable' asset. The club has not seen the level of performance it expected, and he could be included in the transfer list." Furthermore, reporter Christian Falk added, "Kim Min-jae himself would consider a transfer if an attractive offer comes in."

Despite this, evaluations from teammates within the team remain warm. After clinching the Bundesliga title in the 33rd round match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Kim Min-jae unexpectedly found himself at center stage during the victory celebration. Eric Dier brought him to the award stage, and Harry Kane and Thomas Müller also handed him the trophy. The scene of Kim Min-jae lifting the Meisterschale was captured live on TV and on the stadium's electronic scoreboard.

However, due to Bayern's cold evaluation, the likelihood of Kim Min-jae leaving Germany is increasing. Juventus, managed by Director General Cristiano Giuntoli, who brought Kim Min-jae during his time at Napoli, and Inter Milan are also reported to be potential suitors.

In the 2022-23 season, Kim Min-jae played magnificently as the league's best center-back while leading Napoli to the Serie A title. Taormina News 24 reported on the 24th of last month, "Kim Min-jae is expected to leave Bayern Munich and could be returning to Italy in Serie A."

Taormina News 24 explained, "Kim Min-jae is set to leave Bayern Munich after two disappointing seasons, and his future may depend on a return to Italy. In Serie A, he was one of the key figures that led Napoli to the league title in the 2022-2023 season, and now Kim Min-jae is receiving interest from three clubs in Italy."

Beginning with the acquisition of Tah, there is a movement to sort out Kim Min-jae as well. However, the actual free agent Tah preferred a move to Barcelona over Bayern. Initially, news of Tah's potential move to Barcelona surfaced, but reports emerged indicating that player sorting took priority, leading to connections with Bayern again. If the player is willing to wait for Barcelona's player sorting, it's quite possible that Tah's destination could change.

Literally, due to Bayern's premature hype, the situation has arisen where Tah could not come, leaving Kim Min-jae to depart alone. This would put Bayern in a situation of having a hole in their defense line. Attention is drawn to how far the repercussions of Bayern's missteps, including exhaustion controversies, racism, and transfer pushes, will extend.

[OSEN]