Manchester United to rival Liverpool for outstanding Bundesliga defender: report

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Manchester United are looking to boost Ruben Amorim's defensive options heading into the summer

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has a big summer ahead
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has a big summer ahead (Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United are set to rival Liverpool for the signing of a Bundesliga defender this summer.

Ruben Amorim's side know Victor Lindelof is likely set to leave the club in 2025, with the need to bring in a new experienced centre-back looking like something of a priority.

Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez have both struggled with injuries this season, and it appears INEOS have already found an ideal candidate to help bolster the Red Devils' backline.

Manchester United set to battle Liverpool for £25m Bundesliga star THIS summer

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot looks on during the Premier League match against Wolves at Anfield in Liverpool, UK on 16 February, 2025.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is also rumoured to be interested in the defender (Image credit: Alamy)

Having played 47 times for the Bundesliga giants this season, the 29-year-old is an experienced defender who is yet to play anywhere but in his home country of Germany.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Milan are also showing a keen interest in the soon-to-be free agent, who is recognised by FourFourTwo in our list of the best centre-backs in the world.

Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers favourite to take over at the Bernabeu this summer

Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers favourite to take over at the Bernabeu this summer, meaning plenty of his players at Bayer Leverkusen could be set to leave the club (Image credit: Getty Images)

As per reports from CaughtOffside, it is Jonathan Tah who continues to catch the eye of plenty of Premier League clubs, including northwest-based duo Liverpool and Manchester United.

Tah, 29, won the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen last season and has been a standout performer for Xabi Alonso's side across the last two seasons in particular. His contract expires at the BayerArena in the summer, and he would be available on a free transfer in June.

Speaking about his future recently, Tah all but confirmed his decision to leave Leverkusen, leaving plenty of clubs on high alert regarding his availability.

“To be honest, I don’t have a timeframe. But the club knows about it. And it’s been the same as it has been all along,” he said, as quoted by Sky Sports. Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz also continue to be linked with their own moves away from Germany too.

Newcastle United target Jonathan Tah of Leverkusen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Union Berlin at BayArena on November 12, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Mika Volkmann/Getty Images)

Jonathan Tah is wanted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona (Image credit: Getty Images)

In FourFourTwo's opinion, Tah has a superb footballing pedigree and at 29, he is the right age for a Premier League to take a punt on him for the next three to four years. His situation isn't that different to that of Thiago Silva moving away from PSG a few years ago.

Manchester United are back in Premier League action this weekend, as they take on West Ham United.

Matthew Holt
Matthew Holt

Matthew is a Freelance Journalist and has racked up bylines for Manchester United, Manchester Evening News, GOAL and SPORTbible to name a few. A long-term sufferer of Scunthorpe United, he currently resides in the north-west after escaping the smog of North Lincolnshire.