Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba as they look to reinforce their backline.
Eddie Howe’s team have been working hard to secure a defensive reinforcement before the end of the transfer window. While Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is their priority target to bolster their defence, things have not been going according to plan. So, Newcastle United have started to look at alternatives.
According to a report from The Athletic, Newcastle United are looking at Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba as an ideal alternative to Guehi. The Burkina Faso defender has established himself as one of the mainstays in the Bundesliga club under Xabi Alonso, and the Magpies want to prise him away.
Edmond Tapsoba made the move to the Bundesliga outfit in 2020, and he has not looked back since. He played a massive role in Leverkusen’s dominant run last season where they won the Bundesliga unbeaten and made it to the final of the Europa League while also lifting the DFB-Pokal.
The 25-year-old central defender was involved in 46 matches, and he even contributed towards four goals. While he still has four years left on his deal at Bayer Leverkusen, multiple well-known clubs from across Europe have shown interest him.
Newcastle United seek defensive reinforcement
Newcastle United are one of the clubs that have been showing a lot of interest in the Burkina Faso defender. Eddie Howe’s team do not have enough depth in the heart of the defence. Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman are already out injured. While they have added Lloyd Kelly to the mix, they still need more options at the back, with Edmond Tapsoba emerging as an option.
Their priority target has been Marc Guehi, and they have been working on a potential deal for some time. But, Newcastle United have not had much success as all their bids have been rejected so far. They recently submitted a £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons offer, which has been turned down as Crystal Palace seek over £70 million.
While the Magpies have not given up on their pursuit, they have started to look at alternatives and have intensified their efforts to ensure they have capable options in case they fail to land the English international. Howe’s team have already started talks with Leverkusen regarding a deal for Edmond Tapsoba, and it will be interesting to see how things develop from here on.
