Man Utd sanction loan move - & it's now between Newcastle & Aston Villa - Report
According to the Daily Express' Luke Gardener, Newcastle and Aston Villa are now battling to complete to loan signing of highly-rated Man Utd defender Axel Tuanzebe.
The Mail confirmed our interest in the England U-21 international earlier this week, with Bruce keen to be reunited with the man he signed on loan at Villa Park last summer.
Now, Gardener claims Man Utd have sanctioned a loan move away for the defender, but it seems we face competitions from former club Aston Villa - the league's big spenders after 12 summer signings and over £130m spent!
Tuanzebe can play at both right-back and centre-back, meaning his versatility could come in highly useful, whether we opted for a back four or back five as we have done over pre-season.
That said, I have my doubts that he'd get much game time in a five-man defence when everyone is fit. After all, he's not a 'wing-back' and seems unlikely to get in the team ahead of Lascelles, Schar, Dummett or Lejeune.
With that in mind, it would not surprise me if a move to newly promoted Aston Villa is the preferred option - both from his and Man U'td perspective.
Not only will he know the club and the area well after spending the entire 2018/19 season at Villa Park, he may feel he's more likely to gain regular game time.
One to watch, but I'd be surprised if we brought him in myself.
