Premier League side Chelsea are reportedly considering making a move for Bayer Leverkusen and Burkina Faso defender Edmond Tapsoba ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Blues endured a difficult season where they finished in 10th position in the league standings and missed out on European qualification. They also suffered semifinals and final exit to Arsenal and Manchester City in the EFL Cup and FA Cup respectively, while they were humiliated by Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.
The West London club have also confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso, who will take over in the summer as the club’s third permanent manager in just a year, following the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
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Edmond Tapsoba moved to Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 and has developed into one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga since his arrival, making over 250 appearances for the club across all competitions.
The 27-year-old is a major aerial threat in both areas due to his height and physicality and his ball-playing ability also makes him a perfect fit in defence.
He also played a key role in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten league triumph under Alonso in the 2023-24 season and could be set for a reunion with his former manager if a move eventually happens.
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Potential transfer breakdown
According to Transfermarkt, Edmond Tapsoba has a market value of around €35 million, which makes him the fourth most valuable player from Bayer Leverkusen and the most valuable footballer from Burkina Faso.
However, Bayer Leverkusen could demand around two times that amount before they can sanction any exit, given that the defender recently signed a new long-term contract at the club in April that keeps him at the BayArena until 2031.
The 27-year-old also earns around €7 million annually, and Chelsea could spend up to about €80 – €90 million before an agreement is struck with Bayer Leverkusen that would see Tapsoba reunite with Alonso in the Premier League.
