Tottenham Hotspur are allegedly still looking for defensive reinforcements, despite their chase appearing to have stalled in recent weeks…
Tottenham Hotspur have signed Edmond Tapsoba.
However, transfer source Fabrizio Romano clearly wants to spark their interest, reminding fans that they still have a chance to sign Edmond Tapsoba.
Ange Postecoglou has long coveted the Bayer Leverkusen center-back, and this latest rumor backs up that allegation.
Speaking in his CaughtOffside column, the Italian journalist noted:
“Edmond Tapsoba remains a player to watch. Tottenham are still working on this one, he remains a top target for Spurs in defence. Still, it’s not an easy deal to get done because Bayer Leverkusen are asking for a big fee but Spurs are still trying to find a way.”
Tapsoba is definitely the “top target” for the Australian manager, as he tweeted earlier this month, while the German club is still holding out for about €70 million (£60 million) to authorize his exit.
How talented is Edmond Tapsoba?
While Heung-min Son is the club’s most renowned recent export, it is worth remembering their success over a decade ago when they enticed Dimitar Berbatov to White Hart Lane.
Having lit up the Bundesliga, with 33 goal contributions in his final year before moving, his 2006 switch saw him take that first step into English football, which he would dominate for a period.
That first year with Spurs showcased his truly exceptional talents, as a lackadaisical but exceptional footballer who had all the talent in the world. He would score 23 times and assist 15 across all competitions, and follow it up with a further 37 goal contributions the year after.
The Bulgarian superstar capped off his time at the club by winning the League Cup too, which disappointingly remains their most recent piece of silverware.
Already he had announced himself as one of the Premier League’s paramount centre forwards, which unsurprisingly drew the interest of clubs much bigger than the Lilywhites: most notably the dominant force that was Manchester United.
The pull of Sir Alex Ferguson proved indisputable, and he would switch north London for Old Trafford with ease, transferring in a deal that at the very least recouped a healthy £30.75m.
Whilst watching him win numerous domestic honours including two league titles was tough, his stellar service for Spurs remained indisputable.
Should Tapsoba come and enjoy a similarly revolutionary effect, which his solidity could actually provide, perhaps the outfit will have another thing to thank Leverkusen for on top of the now-retired maverick and their South Korean speedster.
After all, last campaign saw them ship 63 goals in the league, the sixth-most of any team.
Placing such a defensive titan in the heart of their backline will go a long way towards rectifying that fragility, with journalist Antonio Mango outlining his key attributes:
“He’s a monster. Ball-playing defender. Comfortable on the ball. Big, strong. Quick. Position good with a very good footballing IQ.”
Last season in the Bundesliga, he had a 6.88 average rating, which was supported by 1.1 interceptions, 1.5 tackles, and three clearances per game, according to Sofascore.
To emphasize his excellence in that area, the latter figure would have placed him third on the Spurs’ roster last season.
Not only that, but when compared to other European center-backs, he is in the top 5% for progressive passes per 90 and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90, according to FBref.
He is the ideal modern-day defender, built to thrive in England and imitate Berbatov’s success at the other end of the field.
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