Axel Tuanzebe returned to Championship giants Aston Villa for a second spell from Premier League outfit Manchester United in the summer transfer window
Steve Bruce is obviously a big fan of Axel Tuanzebe.
Injuries restricted the 20-year-old to just four Championship starts during his loan spell at Villa Park in the second half of last season. But this did not put off Bruce from jumping at the chance to re-sign Tuanzebe on another loan deal from Manchester United during the summer transfer window.
And, having put those fitness problems behind him, Tuanzebe has been a bright spark in a difficult start to 2018/19 for Aston Villa, starting five of six Championship games.
As such, the Birmingham Mail reports that the club are hoping to sign the versatile defender on a permanent basis at the end of this season.
This, however, could depend on Villa winning promotion to the Premier League – which looks rather unlikely after the humiliating 4-1 defeat to Sheffield United on Saturday.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is understood to be a big fan of Tuanzebe, handing the England U21 international his senior debut during a 4-0 FA Cup win against Wigan Athletic in January 2017.
Bruce, however, is a good friend of the Portuguese tactician and the former Sunderland and Birmingham boss could be hoping this relationship gives him a decent chance of signing Tuanzebe permanently in the future.
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