According to The Sun, Manchester United defender Axel Taunzebe will spend next season on loan at Aston Villa, regardless if they earn promotion to the Premier League this campaign.
The 20-year-old joined the Villans on loan in January and has gone on to make just five appearances in all competitions. The form of John Terry and James Chester has led to Tuanzebe struggling for playing time, but he’s set to stay at Villa Park for another season to try again.
The centre-back has risen through the youth ranks to the Manchester United first-team, making eight appearances for the seniors, but his chances of regular playing time were slim with so much competition at Old Trafford – Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Victor Lindelof. However, he’s ran into a similar problem during his loan spell.
Steve Bruce’s side are currently fourth in the Championship table with 82 points from 44 games this campaign, coming off the back of four wins from their last five outings. Villa have the third-best defensive record (40) and have kept clean sheets in each of their last three games.
It’s no surprise Tuanzebe has struggled to play in such a well-oiled backline, but he’ll be hoping for more opportunities next season as the aim of the loan was to get competitive playing time at a level he can develop.
He is one of those players Mourinho says is ready to step up, how if he is playing for Villa? Mourinho cannot be trusted with the youth system.
True, Derek. He’s not been great at Villa, so I think another year away might benefit.