Manchester United have reportedly braced themselves for competition for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, who is of interest to Newcastle United.
The Red Devils advanced into the final of the Europa League after brushing aside Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final on Thursday, and they will face Tottenham Hotspur on May 21 for the trophy.
Manager Ruben Amorim will know that winning the competition will book his side a place in the Champions League next term, but he will also hope to qualify for the tournament in 2025-26 through league placement.
His team are currently 15th in the top flight with just 39 points after 35 matchweeks, and they are guaranteed to finish with their lowest ever points total in Premier League history.
While the club will certainly look to strengthen in the summer and have been linked with numerous players including Leverkusen's Tah, Football Insider report that Newcastle are plotting to make a move for German, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.
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Does Tah make sense for United?
Amorim has utilised a 3-4-3 system during his time at United, and while the system has suited defenders like Harry Maguire, the Englishman is already 32 years old and may not have many years left at the top level.
Centre-back Lisandro Martinez has frequently experienced injury issues, while Matthijs de Ligt has been inconsistent since arriving from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024.
Tah is 29 years old and would not necessarily be brought to the club as a long-term solution at Old Trafford, but considering United will likely need to invest significantly in attack, he could represent good value for money.
![Germany's Jonathan Tah pictured on June 23, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/jonathan-tah_1.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Germany's Jonathan Tah pictured on June 23, 2024 [IMAGO]")
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Can United beat Newcastle?
Newcastle are fourth in the Premier League and have a strong chance to qualify for the Champions League, while the Red Devils' place in the tournament is by no means certain, especially as they have already been beaten three times by Tottenham Hotspur this term.
It should also be noted that the Toon managed to win the EFL Cup this season, and perhaps Tah would view Newcastle as the better move for his career prospects.
Should the Magpies back Eddie Howe with funds in the summer, it would not be surprising if they improved significantly, and it is difficult to see Amorim being able to offer more to Tah in the short term than Newcastle.
Lewis Nolan
