PSG 'accelerate' pursuit of €100m Man Utd target

Tom Weber

• Updated: 14 Jun 2024 14:16 BST
• 4 min read

PSG are stepping up their pursuit of Edmond Tapsoba, according to French media.

The Bayer Leverkusen defender is coming off a stunning season in Germany, winning the domestic double under Xabi Alonso. Tapsoba was a vital cog in the Bundesliga's stoutest defence and this only boosted his reputation.

Excellent on the ball and a very good defender, the centre-back was already a sought-after commodity last summer, with Man Utd considering him as an option but ultimately not pursuing a deal due to a lack of funds.

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Bayer 04 eventually managed to tie the Burkina Faso international down to a new long-term contract once the transfer window closed, fitting him with the Bundesliga's most expensive release clause, worth a whopping €100 million.

Despite this, interest in the 25-year-old remains, with Fabrizio Romano previously reporting that he is still on Man Utd's radar.

PSG barge Man Utd out of the way

Romano, however, acknowledged that Tapsoba is not a top target for the Red Devils this summer, who have now agreed personal terms with Everton wonderkid Jarrad Branthwaite. FootballTransfers understands that a deal is now close.

This has allowed other clubs to act on their interest in Tapsoba, chief among them PSG. Footmercato reports that the Parisians are 'accelerating' their pursuit of the Burkinabe defender and a meeting with his agent is said to have already taken place.

READ MORE: Romano confirms 'TOTAL PRIORITY': Yoro 'ONLY wants' Real Madrid

Intriguingly, the French outlet claims that Tapsoba's release clause is actually more in the €80m region. PSG acknowledge that it will be difficult to sign Lille wonderkid Leny Yoro due to his preference for joining Real Madrid and are turning their attention to Tapsoba.

If the French giants were to trigger his exit clause, they would bypass Bayer 04, who are insistent that they will only make one major sale this summer. This, however, already seems unlikely at this point, with Jonathan Tah close to joining Bayern.

Jeanuel Belocian has already been added to the team, while Italy wonderkid Andrea Natali is on the verge of signing, so it is possible that Tah won't be the only defender to depart the Rhineland this summer.