Aston Villa: United’s Axel Tuanzebe is a must add this summer
By Josh Tonti
Steve Bruce really, really needs to add Axel Tuanzebe back on loan this season. Aston Villa’s defense is set to regress heavily.
Aston Villa’s defensive ranks look, well, rather thin. Incumbent goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is gone, having joined Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion. Starting central defender John Terry is gone too, with his future uncertain.
Before the window closes James Chester might be gone as well, sacrificed in the name of Financial Fair Play. Fullbacks Ahmed Elmohamady and Neil Taylor produced indifferent seasons. Behind them includes the likes of: Alan Hutton, the returning Tommy Elphick, and youngsters Mitch Clark and Easah Suliman.
This makes the news that Aston Villa is targeting Axel Tuanzebe again all the more encouraging. Tuanzebe was limited to five appearances (300 minutes) of Championship football after his January loan. A nasty calf injury kept him out for nearly three months, but the 20-year old is back healthy, ready to stake a claim at Manchester United. That, however, might be wishful thinking with a plethora of options at centre-back for the Red Devils. A loan away might do him some more good, and what better than the club he spent time with that has openings?
It’s not far off to think Tuanzebe could start opposite Chester in the spine of Villa’s defense. Perhaps he could replace Chester’s minutes outright.
His versatility comes into play, too. Tuanzebe can push James Bree and Ahmed Elmohamady at right back against dangerous left wingers as a more solidified defensive presence. He even deputized one match for the claret and blues at left back, which at this point, is probably the weakest position on the roster. José Mourinho will undoubtedly want to see his full squad in training before making loan decisions are made, but Steve Bruce would be doing Aston Villa a real favor by landing Tuanzebe for another 11 months.