Club chief speaks out after slamming Edu breaks on €70m Arsenal transfer
Bayer Leverkusen’s director of sport says that he expects Arsenal-linked Edmond Tapsoba to play a key role next season after increasing his transfer fee.
The Gunners face a crucial summer transfer window after a largely dismal season under Mikel Arteta. The club did well in the end to finish eighth in the Premier League, such was their form. Homegrown talent Emile Smith Rowe proved a big factor in their turnaround at Christmas.
However, new signings with similar quality from elsewhere are a must if Arsenal are to progress.
Leverkusen centre-back Tapsoba has had links with a move to north London amid his rise in Germany.
Previous reports claimed that the Bundesliga club have told clubs that they must stump up £52million to even begin talks over his transfer.
According to Bild, though, that fee has increased. Indeed, Leverkusen will now accept nothing less than €70million (£60million) for their star man.
The earlier reports added that Arsenal were ahead of ‘several UK clubs’ in the transfer hunt. However, such a move will likely make it harder for Gunners chief Edu to seal a deal.
What’s more, Leverkusen director of sport Simon Rolfes told Bild: “Edmond should also play a very important role for us next season.”
The Burkina Faso international moved to the Bundesliga from Vitoria Guimaraes and went straight into the team for the second half of last term.
This campaign, meanwhile, he has had a similar impact, making 31 league outings and 39 overall.
Arsenal could well change around their defensive options this summer; centre-back David Luiz and right-back Hector Bellerin could both leave.
Arsenal man responds to transfer interest
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka has spoken out on rumours linking him with a move to Roma.
The midfielder is reportedly a target for boss Jose Mourinho in this summer’s transfer window.
Arsenal could well let him go as they target a rebuild and Xhaka has now responded to the rumours.
READ MORE: Xhaka responds to Mourinho as Roma continue pursuit of Arsenal man
The post Club chief speaks out after slamming Edu breaks on €70m Arsenal transfer appeared first on TEAMtalk.