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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that Axel Tuanzebe has a “great chance” of featuring for Manchester United next season.
What’s the word?
The 21-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign whilst on loan at Aston Villa last season, and lead the Midlands side’s back-line as they earned promotion to the Premier League.
Reports in recent weeks had suggested Dean Smith was keen on bringing him back to Villa Park for the upcoming campaign, but Solskjaer appears to have dampened those rumours.
Ahead of United’s latest pre-season clash in Australia against Leeds, the Red Devils boss said: “Axel has got a great chance of staying here and playing. He had a great season last year, albeit a stop-start season with injuries, but he’s really proven that he’s capable of playing at this level.
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“He got promoted with Aston Villa and he’s come back very strong and focused. He did well in the first game here in Perth, so he’s one of the young exciting players I can’t wait to see more of.”
The right decision
Despite reports suggesting that United are very much alive in the chase for Leicester star Harry Maguire, Tuanzebe’s displays on loan last season certainly warrant him being given a chance in the first-team at Old Trafford.
The England U21 international is quick, strong and is improving with his positional reading of the game by the week. As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to commit to giving United’s youth a genuine chance of making it with the senior side, Tuanzebe certainly has the experience at his age of playing in competitive football and in high-pressure situations.
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Being an academy product will also give him some undeniable leeway with the fans, were his standards and performances begin to slip; the same cannot be said of established stars like Chris Smalling and Phil Jones however. In potentially playing alongside a formidable presence like Maguire, Tuanzebe could improve his own game no end and really stamp his authority on the team.
