Edmond Tapsoba: Bayer Leverkusen defender who will set off a storm in the Bundesliga

The number of young players on display in the Bundesliga now is enviable, especially when it comes to young attackers.

However, there is a pure defender who has caused buzz across the continent, with many predicting that it will not be long before Edmund Tapsoba takes the step to join one of Europe's top clubs.

At the moment, to some extent, Tapsoba has not established himself in Bayer Leverkusen. The 21-year-old arrived at Bayer Arena on the final day of the January transfer window, but his performances helped Bosch's side into the top four. Tuesday's 1-4 defeat to Wolfsburg was his first taste of defeat since joining the club.

Bayer Leverkusen has also stayed in the Europa League and the German Cup, meaning that this season Tapsoba is likely to win some important trophies at the end of the season and plan to make his first appearance in the Champions League.

In 2016, at the age of 17, Tapsoba made his debut for the Burkina Faso national team, but he never played in the first team before leaving his home club and moving to Portugal.

The former Portuguese, Barcelona and Chelsea organiser Deco contacted Tapsoba.

"I don't believe it's him." Tappsoba told The Athletic in a recent interview: "I mean, it can't be Deco! It must be a joke or something. ”

"He said he had a club for me – Guimarães – and wondered if I had a representative, but I thought someone was kidding me. But there was a second meeting at home, and it wasn't until then that I realized it was true. ”

"Deco told me what he thought about my career, what he thought I could achieve and he said he wanted to help guide me. When someone like Deco speaks, you listen. ”

Tapsoba did listen, and he joined Guimarães in the winter of 2018. He eventually made it to the senior squad in the summer of 2019 and had a brilliant performance in the first half of the season.

Both Leicester City and Wolves have expressed interest in signing him during the January transfer window, but in the end it was Bayer Leverkusen who won, paying an initial fee of €18 million, which could increase to €25 million depending on certain terms satisfied.

It turned out to be well spent. Bos claims he has never seen a player so "quickly adapt" to the left centre-back position in the back three.

The Burkina Faso rising star is known for his passing ability. While he doesn't usually need to pass the ball for long periods in the offensive third zone, his calmness on the ball allows him to maintain possession with nearly unmatched efficiency when looking for teammates.

Opta's figures show that of players who have started eight or more times in the Bundesliga this season, only Borussia Dortmund's midfielder Wertsell and Bayern Munich defender Jules Jure have a passing accuracy of 91.56% more than Tapsoba.'s.

While his role at the back line is defined as keeping the ball moving and providing supply on the left when attacking, his defensive prowess is equally strong.

In his 8 Bundesliga games to date, he has won more than 53% of 1/2 goals and more than 57% of tackles. As a modern athlete, his ability to return to his place after conceding a goal is also considered one of his main strengths.

'I'm sure he will continue his development and become one of the best players in the world.' His former coach at Guimarães, Ivo Vieira, recently told Kickers: "He can go where he wants to go – one of the biggest clubs in the world." ”

That's quite highly rated, but Tapsoba's first few months in one of Europe's most competitive leagues showed that he had all the attributes to reach top level.

In a world where many teams are looking for the next Van Dijk and Koulibaly, Tapsoba will be at the top of many scouting lists.