Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reportedly been urged by Manchester United coaching staff to give Axel Tuanzebe a chance next season.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who ran a story suggesting there are people at the club who think Tuanzebe may have what it takes to make it at United.
He will return to United at the end of the season after a season-long loan at Aston Villa. While he’s put in several good performances for the club this season, he’s had to deal with injuries and hasn’t got the time on the pitch he would have expected at the start of the season.
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This season United have conceded goals for fun, with probably the worst defence in the top six, so what worse can adding Tuanzebe do? The 21-year-old has promise but he will be warned about the jump up to Premier League football.
Should Villa achieve promotion through the playoffs, they could come calling for Tuanzebe again but it sounds like United won’t be allowing him to go anywhere.
United’s search for a centre-back really started a year ago when Jose Mourinho made it clear he wasn’t happy with the defenders he had at the club. Ed Woodward didn’t deliver and United spent the season struggling at the back, so much even David de Gea’s performances have dropped.
Tuanzebe will be given a chance to prove himself to Solskjaer on pre-season tour this summer. He can play at right-back as well as centre-back, so he will get chances to show his worth.