Bayer Leverkusen set their price for Jonathan Tah amid West Ham United interest – Sky Germany
West Ham United target Jonathan Tah still remains keen on a move to the Premier League, with Bayer Leverkusen likely to accept a bid of £17m or more, according to Sky Germany.
The German international has been a target for David Moyes’ side throughout the transfer window, but the Irons missed the opportunity to activate his £15m release clause which has since expired.
But the 27-year-old defender remains keen on a move to the Premier League this summer and the Irons would be able to secure his services for a fee only slightly larger than the original release clause.
West Ham had been keen to bring Manchester United and England centre-back Harry Maguire to the London Stadium this summer, but the Red Devils’ valuation of £35m has left the Hammers once again considering other targets.
Tah has two years left on his current Leverkusen contract, where he has played since 2015, but has fallen down the pecking order at the Bay Arena and would be open to a move to an English club with West Ham currently the most likely destination.
A cheaper and better option
This summer seems to be all about value for money at the London Stadium, the Irons stood firm waiting for Arsenal to match their valuation of Declan Rice and are now being equally safe with their incoming business.
Moyes and the owners don’t want to waste money on unnecessary investment, but that is proving difficult when buying from other Premier League sides, with selling clubs inflating their required fee as they know there’s £105m burning a hole in the Irons’ pocket.
That doesn’t seem to be the case with the Hammers’ pursuit of Tah however, with the reported fee required to secure his signature is almost half of what Manchester United are asking for to buy Maguire and Tah is three years his senior.
While the United man brings with him Premier League experience, a huge bonus for any signing this summer, Tah is no amateur. He has played over 200 Bundesliga games and more than 30 Europa League matches, experience that will be very helpful to Moyes this season as the Irons once again enter a season with European football.
For half the price, it would be worth trying the slightly riskier deal to sign the German defender and leave Moyes with more money to invest elsewhere on the pitch, with a midfielder and striker still required.
Whether Tah ends up at the London Stadium or not, Premier League clubs should be keeping an eye on his situation as £17m is a steal for that calibre of defender.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are keeping tabs on Elye Wah after Chelsea saw a bid rejected for the forward