Arsenal transfer target and Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba has been ruled out of the start of the upcoming season with injury.

Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed that Edmond Tapsoba has suffered a syndesmosis tear and will miss the start of the season. The injury likely means at least a couple of months out, with the Bundesliga kicking off on August 13th.

This news comes pretty hot on the heels of the last Tapsoba update, that Bayer Leverkusen had rejected an Arsenal bid for him in June.

Gianluigi Longari of Sportitalia made the claim, have previously been the first to break Arsenal’s interest in Tapsoba, writing in May that the defender was top of the club’s shortlist. That interest was later confirmed by the likes of Sport1 and The Athletic.

The deal has always seemed fairly unlikely, with Leverkusen asking for €60m (£51.4m), and no suggestion Arsenal’s bid matched that valuation. At this point, it seems the Gunners are pursuing Brighton centre-back Ben White instead.

Tapsoba’s injury has only cast further doubt on any remaining possibility Arsenal could make a second bid for the player.