Tottenham Hotspur Eye €40m Defender As Romero’s Replacement: The Right Fit For Spurs?

Tottenham Hotspur have accelerated their search for defensive reinforcements by identifying Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba as a prime target to succeed Cristian Romero, according to a report from Africa Foot. The Burkina Faso international, valued at €40 million, is viewed inside the club as the ideal solution to stabilise a back line that has wobbled through the current campaign.

Tapsoba, 27, has spent six seasons at the BayArena, establishing himself as a cornerstone of one of Europe’s most tactically refined outfits. Leverkusen are open to a sale this summer if their valuation is met, and Spurs have already signalled they are prepared to meet the asking price for a player who combines imposing physicality with a composure that has become increasingly rare among modern centre-backs.

The north Londoners are bracing for a defensive overhaul. Cristian Romero continues to attract admiring glances from Real Madrid, while Radu Dragusin’s sparse minutes have fuelled speculation that the Romanian could seek regular football elsewhere. With Micky van de Ven assured of one starting berth, the recruitment team have been tasked with finding a leader capable of marshalling the defensive unit and integrating seamlessly into a high-risk, high-reward system.

Tapsoba’s credentials fit the brief. Beyond his recovery pace and aerial dominance, the 6ft 4in defender possesses a passing range that allowed Leverkusen to bypass the first wave of pressure in the Bundesliga. That blend of ball-playing assurance and defensive steel is precisely what Tottenham believe has been missing when opponents counter into the spaces left by their aggressive press.

For a fee of €40 million, Spurs would secure an international regular with Champions League minutes on his résumé—an increasingly rare bargain in today’s inflated market. The player himself is said to welcome a new challenge after trophy success in Germany, viewing the Premier League as the logical stage on which to elevate his career.

Should Tapsoba make the switch, he would arrive not as a prospect for tomorrow but as a proven winner for today, a profile Tottenham are eager to prioritise as they transition between cycles. The deal would simultaneously insulate the squad against Romero’s potential departure and add the leadership qualities required to guide a youthful dressing room through the rigours of domestic and European competition.

With Leverkusen open to negotiations and Spurs determined to act decisively, the coming weeks could determine whether Tottenham’s defence is reshaped around the formidable presence of Edmond Tapsoba.