The game-changing £15m signing Newcastle United must beat Chelsea to in 2024

At the risk of sounding like a spoilsport, the last thing Chelsea need right now is another centre-back. Not that such trifling details have ever stopped Todd Boehly before. The Blues, currently less of a luxury cruise liner and more a single-oared rowing boat, continue to spend big without making any kind of meaningful progress, and if reports are to be trusted, their latest transfer target is a talent who they wholeheartedly believe can strengthen the heart of their defence. Again.

As per renowned journalist Christian Falk, Chelsea are understood to be monitoring Bayer Leverkusen stalwart Jonathan Tah, and see him as a potential long-term successor to Thiago Silva, who turns 40 next September. Seemingly, despite boasting the combined forces of Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Trevor Chalobah, and Malang Sarr, the Blues are still of the opinion that they will be left woefully vulnerable when the time eventually comes for the Brazilian to hang up his boots.

For his part, Tah is under contract in Germany until 2025, but it is understood that he has a release clause written into his current deal with Leverkusen. As recently as this summer, it was suggested that the 27-year-old could be let go for as little as £15 million, although it is unclear whether that relatively meagre fee would still be enough to force his club into a sale.

Either way, an exit is expected in the relatively near future, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano suggesting that Tah could part company with Leverkusen at some point in the coming months. Speaking to Caught Offside, the reporter said: “I’d keep an eye on Premier League clubs for Jonathan Tah. He’s under contract until 2025 at Bayer and sources tell me he could leave in 2024. He’s doing great; I can’t share info on precise club yet but there’s interest from Premier League.”

And indeed, Tah is proving to be a popular figure among English suitors. Alongside Chelsea, it has been reported in recent days that the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United are both weighing up potential swoops of their own, and in light of that interest, you can't help but question whether Stamford Bridge would be the best destination for him after all.

At the present moment in time, the Blues, with their scatter-gun recruitment policy, feel almost incomprehensibly directionless given the heft of the investment they have made since Boehly arrived at the club. For a player to willingly join them under their current guise is a little like voluntarily agreeing to a fishing trip in the Bermuda Triangle; you might be okay, but honestly, is it worth the risk?

You could probably make a similar argument against the merits of joining Manchester United too, but by comparison, Newcastle feels like it could be a very good fit. For one thing, the Magpies have begun to assemble a truly impressive project at St. James' Park, with Eddie Howe and his staff building a side that, in a relatively short space of time, has established itself as a continental presence and a genuine domestic silverware contender.

That being said, there are still areas to strengthen, and the centre of defence is one of them. While the likes of Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, and Dan Burn have all performed admirably in recent times, there is a feeling on Tyneside that one more quality acquisition could be needed as Newcastle look to deal with the rigours and packed fixture schedule of a double duty, both at home and abroad.

To that end, Tah would fit the bill nicely. Physically imposing with 21 senior Germany caps to his name, he is both experienced and yet still very much in the prime of his career. This season, he has been part of a team that is unbeaten in 20 matches across all competitions, and that has conceded just 11 goals in 13 Bundesliga outings. Pedigree doesn't come much more resolute than that.

Whether Tah himself can see a future on Tyneside remains to be seen, but certainly, you would have to argue that it represents a more stable and promising option than anything Chelsea could currently offer him.