Manchester United's transfer pursuit has taken a significant step forward as they have overtaken Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba.
"Leverkusen have set a firm valuation of €50million (£42.8m / $58.4m) for their key defender," sources close to the situation reveal regarding the 27-year-old Bundesliga star.
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SubscribeReports indicate that discussions between Manchester United and the player's representatives are currently the most advanced among interested English clubs.
Although Bayer Leverkusen would ideally prefer to retain the defender who signed a contract extension until 2031 earlier this year, they have left the door open for a suitable financial bid.
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The potential acquisition of a Bundesliga title-winning centre-back like Tapsoba would address long-standing questions regarding the club's defensive fragility.
Pundit criticism has highlighted that Manchester United still rely heavily on familiar defensive faces, making a marquee addition a necessity before the window closes.