Why Barcelona have fallen behind Bayern Munich in race for in-demand free agent Jonathan Tah - explained

Barcelona's hopes of signing Bayer Leverkusen's Tah appear to be slipping away, with Bayern Munich submitting a contract proposal to the centre-back in a bid to strengthen their defence following Eric Dier's departure.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Bayern are pushing to secure a deal for Tah with further talks expected in the coming days. Barcelona are still monitoring the situation, with Hansi Flick keen to reunite with the Leverkusen defender, whom he coached in the German national team. However, Barca's financial situation is continuing to hamper their ability to register new signings and they would need to offload existing players to comply with FFP regulations.

The 29-year-old defender has made over 380 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen since joining them from Hamburg in 2015, establishing himself as one of the best central defenders in the Bundesliga. Standing at 6ft 5in, his aerial prowess and leadership qualities have been pivotal for both club and country.

With Bayern actively pursuing Tah and Barcelona's FFP problems, the defender's decision is anticipated in the coming weeks. If the Catalan giants manage to offload players and create the necessary financial leeway, they might still have a chance to secure Tah's services. However, Bayern's proactive approach places them in a favorable position to land the experienced defender ahead of the new season.