Edmond Tapsoba has signed a new five-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen despite reported interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The 24-year-old was linked with a potential big-money move to the Premier League during the summer transfer window, with Man United and Spurs both known to have been in the market from defensive reinforcements.
Erik ten Hag's side were believed to have identified Tapsoba as a possible replacement for Harry Maguire, who was linked with a summer switch to West Ham United having fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Maguire remains on the red side of Manchester, though, after a summer exit failed to materialise, while 35-year-old Jonny Evans has signed a one-year contract with the club.
Meanwhile, Spurs – who signed Micky Van de Ven from Wolfsburg last month – were on the lookout for another central defender amid uncertainty over the futures of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez, but both players remain in North London for the time being.
🙌 Happy to have you here until 2028, Eddy! 🖤❤️#Tapsoba2028 I #Bayer04 #Werkself
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 4, 2023
Hopes of either Man United or Tottenham reigniting their interest in Tapsoba in 2024 have now been dealt a major blow, as Leverkusen have announced that the defender has put pen to paper on a new long-term deal until June 2028.
Speaking to Leverkusen's official website after signing his new contract, Tapsoba said: "This is a commitment to a club to which I have developed a very emotional bond since my arrival in January 2020. The environment in Leverkusen is very special to me.
"The fans give the team fantastic support, our squad is getting better every year and I'm absolutely convinced that I have the best conditions for a successful future at Bayer 04."
Leverkusen managing director for sport Simon Rolfes added: "Edmond is one of the best central defenders in the Bundesliga, he definitely has the potential to play at the highest international level.
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"This contract extension is a signal for us. We have ambitious goals at Leverkusen and we want to achieve them with great players like Edmond Tapsoba.
"His footballing class combined with his enormous calmness and composure make Edmond a top professional and an integral part of our squad."
Since joining Leverkusen from Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes three-and-a-half-years ago, Tapsoba has made a total of 141 appearances for the German club in all competitions, scoring six goals.
The 6ft 4in central defender is regarded as an integral member of Xabi Alonso's first-team squad, and he started 32 of Leverkusen's 34 Bundesliga games last season as the Die Werkself settled for a sixth-placed finish.
Tapsoba is a 35-cap Burkina Faso international and he is now preparing to represent his country in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eswatini on Friday.
Oliver Thomas
