Manchester United are reportedly open to splashing £200 million on new recruits in the summer of 2026, should the team qualify for the UEFA Champions League, and a defender labelled "untouchable" by the Bundesliga's Bayern Munich could be the first to be brought in.
The club's interest in signing Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, or Felix Nmecha remains solid, with one, if not two, of the young midfielders likely to be signed ahead of the next campaign. However, 27-year-old Edmond Tapsoba, who is in his sixth year at the BayArena, could be signed in parallel, a new report said.
Burkina Faso international Tapsoba was central to the club breaking the "Neverkusen" curse under Xabi Alonso, and his performance remains solid to date. His market price has witnessed a considerable hike, and the right-footed centre-back's big move away from Germany seems unavoidable. Tapsoba is contracted until June 2028, and it is almost certain that many European giants will come offering astronomical figures for his services; Leverkusen will eventually have to give in.
While the club management is aware that their star defender is happy, he will not be blocked if an offer corresponds to his release clause—reportedly around 95 to 100 million euros—or approaches the realistic internal valuation of around 60 million euros, Germany's Fussball Daten said in a report. The club is likely to open talks in the range of 50 to 60 million euros, as they hope to spend some significant cash to strengthen their attacking department, which is in need of firepower, the report added.
ALSO READ:
- Manchester United to buy Real Madrid midfielder in summer? Camavinga links strengthen amidst Baleba-Wharton-Nmecha talks
- Will Manchester United trigger Jadon Sancho contract extension? Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa want to buy winger
- Manchester United set price tag for Bruno Fernandes as PSG and Bayern Munich ready to come knocking?
Tapsoba is a ball-playing centre-back who is often rated as the most complete defender in the German top tier. He is confident playing out from the back and has the passing range to complete long diagonal passes. He is good at weaving short build-up play and can quickly track back if things go wrong while playing a high line. Most importantly, United believe he has the physical toughness to thrive in the Premier League.
It is rumoured that Lisandro Martínez could leave Old Trafford. Tapsoba could be a great addition to the United backline if the Argentine leaves, as his physical qualities match those of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, the other two senior centre-backs in the squad.
