Leeds have loaned plenty of youngsters from Manchester United but will they join Championship rivals Aston Villa in targeting defender Axel Tuanzebe?
Jose Mourinho is only too happy for Axel Tuanzebe to leave Manchester United on loan this month.
The 20-year-old centre-back is arguably the most promising defender to have emerged through United’s famed academy in recent years but, with first-team opportunities scarce at Old Trafford, his manager believes a short-term loan spell would be beneficial.
“I am not giving the opportunities to Axel. So probably Axel is the only one that I open the door for him to go and play because I believe he is a really good talent and he needs to play,” Mourinho said in quotes reported by the Birmingham Mail.
The prospect of Tuanzebe learning from none other than former Chelsea skipper John Terry at Villa Park should surely have Mourinho seeing the benefits of sending his highly-rated defender to the Midlands.
But if Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani is unwilling to spend big this month, the Whites should consider looking to their bitter rivals once again for a short-term loan.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is the latest United prospect to spend time at Elland Road, but the left-back’s temporary deal looks set to be cut short this month after he made just one Championship appearance under Thomas Christiansen.
But Tuanzebe could thrive where Borthwick-Jackson failed. He is an aggressive and technical defender who can play in a variety of positions, including at right-back. This could come in handy with Luke Ayling out for the season.
And with Tuanzebe in need of first-team football, he may be more likely to get that at Leeds rather than in a bloated Villa squad.
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