MANCHESTER UNITED are scouting Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba after receiving a tip-off in Germany, reports say.
The defender has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in the Bundesliga over the last 12 months and he is said to have attracted attention from two other Premier League clubs.
Man Utd are reportedly scouting Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond TapsobaCredit: AFP or licensors
But according to The Express, United have been keeping tabs on the 22-year-old on the advice of a ‘well-respected figure in Germany’.
Tapsoba signed for Leverkusen from Vitoria Guimaraes in January 2020, costing an initial £15.5million in a deal that could still rise to £21.5m in add-ons.
It is understood they were impressed by his confidence in bringing the ball out from the back and maturity at such a young age.
Tapsoba has now played every minute of league action this season, besides two games he missed due to coronavirus in late November.
He has also formed a partnership at the back with United academy graduate Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who left Old Trafford for Leverkusen.
Tapsoba’s previous deal included a release clause believed to be in the region of £44m, with Leverkusen uninterested in any offers below that sum.
They recently tied him down the Burkinabe international to a new contract that will run until 2026, with his release clause now likely to have been increased.
Tapsoba is right-footed, and United have long been in the market for a left-footed defender to partner Harry Maguire, who is currently paired with either Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly.
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Dayot Upamecano and Nathan Ake – who later signed for City – were both considered earlier this season but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to bring in a centre-back.
Tapsoba was the subject of a last-minute enquiry from Liverpool in the winter window as the champions desperately looked to bring in defensive reinforcements.
But they were told by Leverkusen to pay the £44m release clause, with Jurgen Klopp instead signing Ben Davies from Preston and Ozan Kabak from Schalke.
Tapsoba has also been a target for Leicester and Wolves with both eyeing a summer move.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
