Manchester United are preparing for the imminent exit of Harry Maguire and have identified Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba as his potential replacement, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The 24-year-old is under contract at the Bundesliga club until 2024 and could be available for a reasonable fee.
The Red Devils have Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw as centre-back options, but manager Erik ten Hag wants to sign another player, with Maguire expected to join West Ham United.
Man United have agreed to sell the 30-year-old England international to the Hammers in a £30 million deal.
Tapsoba has caught their attention, and the Burkina Faso international has been on the radar of a couple of Premier League clubs.
The Bundesliga official website has described the former Vitoria de Guimaraes star as a ‘powerful and super quick defender who boasts frightening heading abilities’, and Man United could do with those qualities.
Tapsoba has earned comparisons to Jerome Boateng due to his speed, strength, passing ability and composure, and he has what it takes to give the Red Devils centre-backs a run for their money.
He made the Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament in 2021 and also earned a nomination for the 2022 African Player of the Year award.
Tapsoba has played over 100 games since joining Leverkusen in 2020 and has accumulated much-needed experience which should see him hit the ground running in the Premier League.
Man United need quality depth at the back and across the pitch to challenge for the Premier League title and other trophies this term, and landing the Burkinabe star would be a huge boost.
They have released Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe, while Eric Bailly is not in the first-team plans going forward, so bringing in another centre-back with Maguire on his way out is necessary.
