Who is Edmond Tapsoba? One of the main issues that led to Tottenham’s demise last season was the lacklustre displays in defence. Signing Tapsoba could go a long way to fixing that problem.
Tapsoba is a key figure in the Bayer Leverkusen squad and has caught the eye of top European clubs over the last couple of years with his impressive displays at the back.
London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have been suggested as possible destinations for Tapsoba, should he decide to leave the Bundesliga (Fabrizio Romano).
While Arsenal have seemingly cooled their interest, it is thought Spurs are still very much ‘following’ the commanding centre-half (Here We Go podcast).
With this in mind, it’s time to get to know the player a little better, just in case he’s wearing the Lilywhite shirt the next time you see him in action.
Name: Edmond Tapsoba
Age: 24-years-old
Place of birth: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Current club: Bayer Leverkusen
Former clubs: Vitoria Guimaraes SC, Leixoes, Salitas
Nationality: Burkina Faso
International appearances: 34 caps, 1 goal (Transfermarkt)
Club appearances: 199 appearances, 20 goals (Transfermarkt)
Edmond Tapsoba career stats
One thing worth noting is that Edmond Tapsoba very rarely misses a game, or even a minute, of football. Out of 34 Bundesliga games last season, Tapsoba only failed to play the full 90 minutes in four matches.
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In total, the defender made 47 appearances in all competitions for Leverkusen, scoring two goals and contributing two assists along the way (Transfermarkt).
Looking at the FBRef stats for the Bundesliga during the 2022/23 campaign, Tapsoba ranked joint-sixth for passes into the final third with 154 across the season.
Even more impressive, however, is that Tapsoba was the top-ranked player in the whole division for progressive carrying distance. He also boasts an impressive 71.4% of dribblers tackled, which shows how adept he is at breaking up the opposition’s play.
What are Edmond Tapsoba’s strengths and weaknesses?
Tapsoba is a towering, commanding centre-half but is also surprisingly effective with the ball at his feet, too. He is able to combine his physicality with a sense of awareness and comfort when he has the ball and is often able to avoid losing possession through opponent pressure.
You will most likely find Tapsoba passing the ball direct to his teammates rather than attempting long balls over the top, and he is known to be a safety-first defender who will not put the team at risk with erratic behaviour.
This risk-averse mentality could be seen as a weakness at times, however, as Tapsoba will rarely be the man to spark a quick transition from defence into attack.
In Ange Postecoglou’s more attacking system, this could hold Tapsoba back, but the value of a calm presence at the back cannot be understated.
What are people saying about Edmond Tapsoba?
The Athletic reporter Seb Stafford-Bloor describes the 24-year-old as a “very watchable and technical defender,” but does warn that the player can be a little inconsistent at times.
Meanwhile, U23 football scout Antonio Mango hailed Tapsoba as a “monster” of a defender who possesses a “very good footballing IQ.” Mango adds that the player has a “big big future” ahead of him.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Tapsoba is at the “top of the list” for Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s easy to see why. Romano claims Spurs are keeping very close tabs on the centre-half and his availability this summer.
What do The Spurs Web think?
Edmond Tapsoba is one of the most accomplished young centre-backs in the game and would be an excellent signing for Spurs. His composure, both on and off the ball, could make him the perfect partner for the more aggressive Cristian Romero and we’d love to see him join our club this summer.
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