Real Madrid join race to sign Bundesliga star with long-standing interest from rivals Barcelona: Reports

Following Dani Carvajal’s season-ending injury during 2-0 win over Villarreal, Real Madrid’s defensive options have been further reduced this season. They have reportedly begun planning for summer arrivals, with Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, whose contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, on their radar.

Tah has been one of Leverkusen’s key players since making his debut for the club in 2015. His performances significantly improved last season under Xabi Alonso, as he helped the team win a domestic double.

The 28-year-old has made 363 appearances for Leverkusen so far, while he is also considered one of Germany’s first-choice defenders under Julian Nagelsmann, alongside Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, entered the season with only three experienced centre-backs, but both Eder Militao and David Alaba have been struggling with injuries. It has forced Ancelotti to use Aurelien Tchouameni alongside Rudiger in recent games.

Consequently, Tah could be a smart acquisition, potentially another free signing like David Alaba and Rudiger, who arrived from Bayern Munich and Chelsea, respectively. The German international has even expressed his intention to not extend his contract with Leverkusen, citing his desire for a new challenge.

According to journalist Ramon Alvarez, the Spanish giants are closely monitoring Tah’s situation, with plans to sign him next summer. Alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona are also in the race to sign the German, which could heat up the competition for his signature in the coming months.

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Carlo Ancelotti discusses players to cover Dani Carvajal’s position at Real Madrid

Carvajal’s news is undoubtedly a significant setback for Real Madrid, as they lack a natural replacement for his position. Carlo Ancelotti has previously utilized both Federico Valverde and Lucas Vazquez in the right-back position, and mentioned that he might consider the latter, who has started just once this season.

Regarding potential replacement signings for Carvajal in January, Ancelotti was tight-lipped, noting that there aren’t many options available in the market at the moment.

"Lucas Vazquez gives us a lot of confidence and in the break we will talk about this issue. The market is closed and there are not many options. We have to manage the squad well and in case of the absence of the only full-back we have now, which is Lucas Vazquez, think about who to put in this position,” he said (via Yahoo).

Real Madrid are currently three points behind league leaders Barcelona in La Liga and are set to face a challenging run of fixtures after the international break.

They will first travel to face Celta Vigo on October 19, followed by two crucial matches - the first against Borussia Dortmund on October 22 in the Champions League and then a league clash with Barcelona on October 26.