Bayer Leverkusen will demand an “immoral” fee in the region of £70 million for reported Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool target Edmond Tapsoba this summer, sporting director Simon Rolfes has told BILD.
There was once a time when Jonathan Tah was the most highly rated centre-half at the Bay Arena.
That all changed, however, when a little-known Burkina Faso international arrived from Vitoria Guimaraes in January 2020.
14 months later, Tapsoba is one of the most coveted young defenders in Europe, his quality in and out of possession sending scouts across the continent into a frenzy.
The Express reports Wolves are keen, as are a Liverpool side whose defence has been riddled by injuries all season (Sport1).
But, after Leverkusen sold Kai Havertz to Chelsea for about £70 million, Rolfes insists it would take a similarly sizeable fee to snare Tapsoba in the next transfer window.
“I am not surprised Eddy’s quality arouses interest,” says the former Germany international.
“But the player is not for sale. (It would take an) immoral fee.”
Sport claims Tapsoba’s agent, former Portugal star Deco, wants the classy 22-year-old to follow in his footsteps with a move to Barcelona.
But if the cash-strapped La Liga giants couldn’t afford to sign Eric Garcia in January – despite the fact his contract was due to expire just six months later – it seems unlikely one of the game’s costliest defenders will be wearing blue and red next season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
