Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is delighted by interest from Newcastle, with Steve Bruce’s side now leading Aston Villa for his signature, according to Chronicle Live.
The Magpies are working to award head coach Steve Bruce with a new centre-half during the summer transfer window. He wants to further bolster his options, despite having five at the club already, having searched for a player with a different profile for the last 18-months.
Bruce wants Newcastle to add pace in the position with an athletic type, and Tuanzebe may be the answer. The Toon boss believes his current backline selections lack the legs for his side to play higher up the field.
Tuanzebe is one of the fastest members of the Manchester United dressing room, and could soon solve Newcastle’s search. The Red Devils are open to sending their £50,000-per-week enforcer out on loan with Raphael Varane arriving from Real Madrid.
Newcastle do not have a deal with Manchester United to sign Tuanzebe on loan. But interest from St James Park has delighted his camp after a difficult season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 23-year-old only started four league games, with three in May.
Reports by The Athletic also support Newcastle’s interest in Manchester United defender Tuanzebe. The Telegraph also claimed on Monday that the Toon had spoken with the Red Devils over a deal. Although Chronicle Live now note they did not agree on terms.
Bruce could still face competition from one of his former sides, Aston Villa, as well. The Express and Star reported earlier this month that Dean Smith’s outfit are on red alert over taking the centre-half back to Birmingham after a successful loan spell during 2018/19.
Newcastle can sign an ‘outstanding’ defender in Manchester United’s Tuanzebe
Newcastle do not have a deal with Manchester United for Tuanzebe, but a move away from Old Trafford is now looking very likely. Tuanzebe’s delight at the interest will also help Bruce finally add the pace in defence he believes the Toon lack.
It will also not surprise the Red Devils hierarchy that he is considering an immediate future elsewhere. The Manchester Evening News note Tuanzebe feels he deserves more chances to feature than Solskjaer offered last term. He played just nine times in the Premier League.
Nonetheless, Solskjaer was full of praise for the former England U21 international in April. After shutting out Granada in the Europa League quarter-finals, he said via the Manchester United website: “I think him and Victor [Lindelof] were our outstanding performers.”
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