Arsenal Weighing Up Bid for Bayer Leverkusen Defender Edmond Tapsoba

According to latest reports, Arsenal are now considering signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba this summer. After losing out to Manchester United for Lisandro Martinez, the Gunners have identified the 23-year-old centre-back as a possible target.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is believed to have planned on having two players in each position going into the 2022/23 season. Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez was reportedly the Spanish manager’s first choice due to his ability to play in multiple positions, but the pursuit failed.

Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal — Image Obtained Via Football365

The club’s summer business so far has been attack-centred, completing the £34m signing of FC Porto attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira and the £45m capture of Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus. Teenage prospect Marquinhos has also joined the Gunners from Sao Paulo.

Now, as reported by The Sun, Arsenal are looking to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba in the ongoing transfer window. The North London side are weighing up a £42.5million bid for the Burkina Faso centre-back.

Player Profile

Edmond Tapsoba joined the youth set-up at Portuguese side Leixoes in 2017. A move to Vitoria Guimaraes brought him invaluable experience, with the player playing for the club’s ‘B’ team in the Portuguese second tier before making it to their first team for the 2019/20 campaign. After making sixteen appearances in the first season in which he scored four goals, he moved to Leverkusen.

The 23-year-old defender has a similar style of play to German world-class centre-back Jerome Boateng. He is comfortable with the ball at his feet, something which Arteta requires in his system. In fact, he averaged 2.92 progressive passes and 3.77 progressive carries per 90 minutes last season, as per fbref. Comparatively, Ben White registered 2.81 and 3.13 respectively, with Gabriel Magalhaes scoring 2.44 and 4.23 in the two categories respectively.

Edmond Tapsoba – The newest LCB being linked with a move to Arsenal from Bayern Leverkusen for €50m #AFC pic.twitter.com/iGHqV6qdYx

— Le African Gooner (@leafricangooner) July 15, 2022

Tapsoba is also not afraid to get stuck in defense. He averaged 2.59 interceptions, 1.82 blocks and 10.21 pressures per 90 minutes last term, much higher than both White and Gabriel in each of those parameters.

He has blistering pace, strength and aerial threat which has been integral to Bayer Leverkusen securing a top-four spot last season. The defender has received a nomination for the 2022 African Player of the year award and has become a fan favourite at the Bay Arena.

Verdict

Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers have previously scouted Tapsoba but a move didn’t materialise due to a lack of interest from the player. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is understood to be in the market for another centre-back to compete with Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, and William Saliba.

Saliba is reportedly ready to quit Arsenal this summer if he isn’t guaranteed a substantial number of starting appearances, especially after his sensational loan spell at Olympique Marseille last season. France manager Didier Deschamps has suggested that Saliba’s World Cup status depends on whether he continues to play regularly.

Tapsoba would be a suitable alternative – he is fluent in English, Portuguese and French and has basic knowledge of Spanish and German. The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the top defenders in the Bundesliga over the last few years.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans, whose current contract is due to expire in 2023 but with Saliba’s future increasingly in doubt, the North Londoners should shift their focus to a quality ball-playing defender like Edmond Tapsoba.

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