Aston Villa are said to be interested in signing Tuanzebe on loan from Manchester United.
Jose Mourinho says he’s “opened the door” for Axel Tuanzebe to go and play amid reported interest from Aston Villa.
The Mirror reported last week that Villa have enquired about taking the defender on loan from Manchester United.
Mourinho later told the Manchester Evening News, however, that he planned to delay his decision until the end of the transfer window, with the Red Devils boss afraid of losing senior players to injury.
Although he already appears to have made up his mind.
Speaking after United’s 3-0 win against Stoke City on Monday, Mourinho is quoted as telling the Mirror [live blog entry 03:50]: “Today I had [Marcos] Rojo and [Victor] Lindelof on the bench and [Eric] Bailly still recovering so I am not giving Axel the chances.
“Axel is the only one I open the door for him to go and play because he is a really good talent and he needs to play.
“The numbers we have, we are playing Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup so we need to keep the numbers we have.”
Aston Villa, who have already taken Tuanzebe’s teammate Sam Johnstone on loan this season, are looking to strengthen their squad this winter, with an automatic promotion place in sight.
Heavy spending in recent seasons, however, is believed to have restricted Steve Bruce’s side to temporary signings, in a bid to avoid falling foul of the Football League’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Tuanzebe, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but has played for England at Under-21 level, has made eight appearances for Manchester United this season.
Will Aston Villa get their man?
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