Axel Tuanzebe is on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United.
Dean Smith has revealed to One Football that he hasn’t yet spoken to Axel Tuanzebe about staying at Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old has been a big hit at Aston Villa since joining on a season-long loan from Manchester United under Steve Bruce last summer.
But the versatile Tuanzebe hasn’t kicked a ball for the Villans since December due to injury, though he was back on the bench for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers.
Being fit again, naturally there are now questions over whether Smith will try and sign him on a permanent basis this summer, but the Aston Villa boss says that no discussions have taken place with the player or his parent club.
“It is not a conversation I have had with Axel. It is not a conversation I have had with Manchester United,” he told One Football.
“Axel is a great player and we all like him here. He’s a great athlete, quick and comfortable on the ball and tactically astute too.”
Bruce had been playing Tuanzebe as a right-back prior to his dismissal earlier this season, but Smith has been using him as a central defender and it’s made big, big difference.
Problem is, Aston Villa signed two centre-backs on loan in January – Kortney Hause and Tyrone Mings – so Tuanzebe might not have much football during the run-in.
Nevertheless, he is a very popular figure among the Villa Park faithful and a lot of them would love him back permanently.
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