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Manchester City Should Target Jonathan Tah

By Dan Larsen

UDINE, ITALY - JUNE 30: Jonathan Tah of Germany in action during the 2019 UEFA U-21 Final between Spain and Germany at Stadio Friuli on June 30, 2019 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
UDINE, ITALY - JUNE 30: Jonathan Tah of Germany in action during the 2019 UEFA U-21 Final between Spain and Germany at Stadio Friuli on June 30, 2019 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Tah is a efficient passer.

ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 18: Miroslav Klose of SS Lazio and Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen in action during the UEFA Champions League qualifying round play off first leg match between SS Lazio and Bayer Leverkusen at Olimpico Stadium on August 18, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 18: Miroslav Klose of SS Lazio and Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen in action during the UEFA Champions League qualifying round play off first leg match between SS Lazio and Bayer Leverkusen at Olimpico Stadium on August 18, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) /

One final area of his game where Jonathan Tah excels is in his passing ability. Few center backs around the world are as efficient in their distribution as he is.

Tah attempted an average of 75.5 passes per game last season for Bayern Leverkusen. He completed 89.8% of those, a career best mark. Tah has made significant strides with his passing efficiency over time, but he has completed at least 82.9% of his passes in all but one league season in his career, showing a solid base of success in his passing skills.

The composure that was highlighted earlier as an asset in his defensive work shines when he’s on the ball as well. Tah rarely sets a foot wrong and has shown a fantastic feel and understanding of how to work as a heavily used option in the build up of play. He’s also very skilled with the ball at his feet, showing a natural feel when he’s in possession.

Beyond his short passing, Tah has also shown some expansion to his game in picking out long balls. He attempted a career high 3.8 long balls this past season in a team that trying to set up the speedy front line of Julian Brandt and Leon Bailey on the counter when the opportunity presented itself.

Given the passing skills he already has, it’s not difficult to envision Pep Guardiola getting even more out of him if he were to move to Manchester City this summer.