Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe ‘is eager to join Aston Villa permanently’ with 23-year-old enjoying his third loan spell at Villa Park this season
- Axel Tuanzebe is reportedly eager to join Aston Villa permanently this season
- The defender is in his third loan spell at Villa from Manchester United
- Tuanzebe is enjoying working under the management of Dean Smith
Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is reportedly eager to join Aston Villa permanently this season.
Tuanzebe is in his third loan spell at Villa Park and has started the club’s last two Premier League games – a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Brentford and a 3-0 loss at Chelsea last Saturday.
According to The Sun, the centre-back is settled at Villa, where he previously had two loan spells when the club was in the Championship.
Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is eager to join Aston Villa on a permanent basis
The 23-year-old progressed through the ranks at United’s academy and has made 37 first-team appearances.
However, it will be difficult for Tuanzebe to make a sustained breakthrough at Old Trafford – especially following the arrival of Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane this summer – and he is much more likely to receive regular playing time at Villa.
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has shown much faith in Tuanzebe, who believes he is in the right environment to push on further.
Tuanzebe is enjoying working under Dean Smith and is relishing getting regular playing time
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is unable to guarantee Tuanzebe such playing time at Old Trafford
Tuanzebe has two years remaining on his contract at United after signing a new deal at Old Trafford earlier this summer, but it seems likely that he could end up departing before then, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having several other defensive options to call upon.
Alongside new signing Varane, United also have club captain Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof as centre-back options.
Although he is usually deployed at centre-back, Tuanzebe is also capable of filling in at right-back or in midfield. Previously capped by England at Under-21 level, he is also eligible to represent DR Congo.
