Leverkusen CEO on negotiations with Bayern for Tah: "Not much time left"

Several weeks after reportedly agreeing personal terms with Bayern Munich, Jonathan Tah is still a Bayer Leverkusen player as the two clubs haggle over a transfer fee. 

It was recently reported that Leverkusen had rejected a €25 million offer from Bayern for the centre-back. 

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has now given his thoughts on the situation. 

"Jona' knows that he is highly respected here," Carro told Kicker, stressing that everyone at the club would be happy if Tah stayed. 

“But we have also heard his wishes. You have to respect that,” he continued. 

However, Carro made it clear that Leverkusen won't wait forever, as they need time to find a replacement. 

"Apart from the modalities of a transfer, we also have to look at the time. We don't have much time because we need to be able to react," he warned. 

Adding to the pressure, Tah currently occupies one of the eight spots in Leverkusen's Champions League squad reserved for locally-trained or homegrown players. 

If Tah leaves, Leverkusen will have to find a replacement who qualifies as a local player. Otherwise, one of the 17 non-local players will have to be dropped. 

So what happens next? Leverkusen will most likely soon set a deadline by which the transfer must be completed. 

"You have to wait and be professional. I have the feeling that everyone involved is doing just that," said Carro. 

Should the deal fall through, Carro hopes to convince Tah to extend his contract beyond 2025.

"If Bayern don't sign him in the end, we will do everything we can to get him to extend his contract with us," he stressed. 

However, he is aware that this is not a likely scenario. 

“I can't say if it would be possible. But it would be our great wish,” said Carro.