Edmond Tapsoba would be solid replacement for West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna
West Ham are already planning for the summer ahead and they have reportedly set sight on Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba.
The Hammers surely will be looking to add a new centre-back to the ranks, and Calciomercato reports that Taposba is being considered as an option.
The Burkina Faso international has a £44million release clause in his Leverkusen contract [Express].
Ogbonna replacement
This season is a clear indication that bolstering the central defender is key. Angelo Ogbonna will remain at the club for another season, but the Hammers must prepare for life without him.
A long-term replacement is necessary. Kurt Zouma and Issa Diop have both faced injuries leaving the Hammers depleted at the back.
Diop has struggled for regular games, and chances are high that he could be sold in the summer if there’s a good offer on the table.
Solid defender
Tapsoba has managed over 85 games for Leverkusen since joining the club in January 2020 from Portuguese side Guimaraes. He has a contract at Leverkusen until the summer of 2026, and the German club are expected to demand a high transfer fee for him.
He is rated highly at the club. At 23, he will soon approach the peak of his career, and the Hammers must snap him up now and enjoy his best years.
Although Craig Dawson is proving that age is just a number, Diop’s form is a concern. Taposba could be a very good signing for the Hammers, but they need to spend big on him.
It remains to be seen if the Hammers make a serious attempt to sign him in the summer, as Moyes will have other targets as well.
In other West Ham news, Michail Antonio has been spotted mocking a Frankfurt fan in a pitch invasion confrontation after the Europa League defeat.
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