Aston Villa are now leading the race to sign Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe after Newcastle baulked at the fee needed to land the defender on loan, per The Sun.
Steve Bruce is yet to add any players to the ranks at St James’ Park this summer, but has sanctioned a handful of exits. The latest to leave Tyneside was Yoshinori Muto, after the Toon paid a portion of the final year of his £54,000-per-week deal to end his contract early.
Newcastle have been hamstrung by a mere £15m budget before any sales for signings this summer. It has also meant Bruce has been forced to back away from any deal to sign Tuanzebe. The Magpies boss highly desires a new centre-half, but cannot afford his arrival.
Manchester United want £5m to loan Tuanzebe, which is too much for Newcastle and has seen Aston Villa take over. Dean Smith’s side are now favourites to hire the 23-year-old, who Chronicle Live claimed was likely to join the Magpies.
The Telegraph also report Aston Villa are considering a permanent move as Manchester United would sell Tuanzebe. The £50,000-per-week enforcer only started four of his nine Premier League appearances last season, including three in May.
Tuanzebe is additionally out of contract in 2022, although the Red Devils can extend his deal by a further year. But the England U21 international could reject new terms at Old Trafford if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues to omit the defender from his plans next season.
That’s because the Manchester Evening News report Tuanzebe believes he deserves more opportunities to play than have been on offer. He also feels Manchester United chiefs offered a lack of recognition for his efforts while Victor Lindelof struggled last season.
Aston Villa can sign ‘unbelievable’ player in Manchester United defender Tuanzebe
Aston Villa will be glad to see Newcastle back down from a deal with Manchester United to loan Tuanzebe. Chronicle Live noted interest from St James’ Park delighted the defender, but Bruce cannot afford the Red Devils’ price.
Smith could now sign Tuanzebe, either on loan or in a permanent swoop, to strengthen the Villans backline. While he rarely featured last season, the centre-half delivered a flawless Champions League showcase against Paris Saint-Germain in October.
He dominated Kylian Mbappe in the duel, his passing was precise and was clinical dealing with any danger. Aspects of the Manchester United product’s game that Luke Shaw has long admired. The England left-back said, via the Express in 2018: “Axel is unbelievable.
“I think the talent he’s got is frightening. He’s strong, he’s quick, he’s energetic, he reads the game well, he’s a good passer of the ball. He’s got everything.”
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