Solskjaer set to hold talks with defender ready to fight for first-team place

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to hold talks with young defender Axel Tuanzebe over the 21-year-old’s future.

Tuanzebe was pivotal in Aston Villa’s promotion to the Premier League last season in a successful loan spell in the Midlands, but it now appears he is ready to fight for his place in defence at Old Trafford.

The Sun report that Tuanzebe will sit down with Solskjaer at United’s AON training complex before the Reds fly out for their pre-season tour of Australia on July 8th.

United’s players are all expected to report back for pre-season training at Carrington on July 1st.

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The report claims that Solskjaer would be keen to give the youngster a chance in his first-team setup, but newly-promoted Aston Villa want the defender back on loan next season.

Pre-season looks the perfect opportunity to give Tuanzebe a chance in a United shirt with United facing Leeds United and Perth Glory in Australia.

Tuanzebe surely cannot be much less of a liability than Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in defence, but Solskjaer could still look to sign a more established defensive option.

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