Aston Villa are trying to hijack Newcastle’s loan move for Man Utd centre back Axel Tuanzebe, according to The Telegraph.
They report claims that this summer’s big spenders are now working on a permanent deal for the 23-year-old, with the Red Devil’s listening to offers for the defender.
Not only that, the piece states that the loan fee we’ve been quoted is proving to be an ‘obstacle’ – some media outlets have suggested they’re asking around £5m just for us to have him on a temporary basis.
Manchester Evening News (MEN) wrote on Monday that we remained the favourites for his signature, with The Chronicle also claiming last week that he and his camp were ‘delighted’ by our interest.
However, talk of Villa now pushing on with a potential permanent is a real concern given the ambition and financial firepower they’ve shown this summer.
He may get regular starts on Tyneside and would struggle to get into Dean Smith’s side at present – Mings and Konsa are clearly first choice – but there’s no doubt Villa’s project could appeal far more to Tuanzebe, especially now they’re offering a permanent return to his former loan club.
Hopefully Man Utd opt for a loan move and we can get this one ‘over the line’, with us in dire need of some good news in the transfer market – not yet another door slammed shut.
