Tim Steidten has a ‘close eye’ on rapid penalty-taking centre-back Edmond Tapsoba if a West Ham move for Harry Maguire fails again.
The January transfer window rumour mill is slowly but surely starting to creak into life for West Ham.
And it seems there could – if reports are to be believed – be some action around West Ham’s centre-back department.
A move for Harry Maguire – fast becoming a tale as old as time – appears to be very much back on the cards for the Hammers.
Tim Steidten has ‘close eye’ on rapid penalty-taking centre-back Edmond Tapsoba if West Ham move for Harry Maguire fails again
And the Man United outcast is doing nothing to play it down.
We reported on Maguire’s comments in an England press conference where he called West Ham “a massive club”.
And yesterday he bullishly sent a sent a new come and get me plea to West Ham boss David Moyes as fresh rumours over a January move to West Ham – and a potential Saudi departure for Kurt Zouma – gather pace.
But West Ham have been here before – twice in fact – when it comes to their desire to sign Maguire. So it makes total sense to have an alternative lined up.
And Tim Steidten has a ‘close eye’ on rapid penalty-taking centre-back Edmond Tapsoba if a West Ham move for Maguire fails again.
Report’s claim comes amid speculation of January departure for Zouma
According to 90min, Steidten has monitoring the 24-year-old defender, who he signed for Bayer Leverkusen back in 2020.
“Technical director Tim Steidten is also keeping a close eye on other players he’s familiar with – Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba for one,” the report states.
“That could lead to West Ham considering offers for Zouma, who joins an extensive list of Premier League players targeted for a move to the Middle East. N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Riyad Mahrez, Ruben Neves and Aleksandar Mitrovic were some of the headline names to head to Saudi in the summer, and it’s expected the country’s four PIF-backed teams will look to add more talent to their ranks when the window opens.”
Tapsoba likened to World Cup winner Jerome Boateng
Burkina Faso international Tapsoba is known as one of the quickest and most powerful defenders in the Bundesliga.
And he has a rare gift when it comes to defenders – he is a penalty specialist. Although he currently cedes that responsibility to striker Victor Boniface.
Tapsoba has earned glowing comparisons with German World Cup winner Jerome Boateng for his speed, strength, passing ability and composure.
With the Zouma claims, Angelo Ogbonna likely being in his last season at West Ham, question marks over Nayef Aguerd and uncertainty surrounding Thilo Kehrer’s future, links to a move for a Maguire or Tapsoba could well have legs.
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