Tuanzebe heads back to Villa Park
Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe has rejoined Aston Villa in another loan deal.
The 20-year-old spent the latter part of last season with the Midlanders but was unable to contribute too much to their promotion bid after sustaining an injury. Former Red Steve Bruce remains a big admirer of the youngster and, with Villa looking to go one better after losing in the play-off final to Fulham in May, another deal has been struck with United.
With the club's pre-season commitments fulfilled, Tuanzebe has been allowed to leave on a temporary basis again in order to obtain regular first-team football.
The homegrown Academy product picked up valuable experience during Tour 2018, presented by Aon, and came off the bench in the 79th minute of the final friendly match with Bayern Munich on Sunday. He has been praised by Jose Mourinho in the past and will be relishing the opportunity to impress.
Villa open their Championship campaign against Hull City tonight (Monday) so Tuanzebe could be in line to start his second stint at Villa Park in a game against Wigan Athletic, another of Bruce's old clubs, at the weekend.
"It's great to be back," he told Villa's official website. "This is a big, big club and to represent it again is a big honour for me. It made perfect sense for me to return for the season ahead. I know my way around the place now and owe a lot to the great people who've really looked after me.
"It was a no-brainer and now the ambition remains the same as last season – to reach the Premier League. I believe the squad we have here is more than capable of achieving it and playing at that level.”
Everybody at United would like to wish Axel the best of luck for the season as he becomes the fifth United man to leave on loan this summer.
Goalkeepers Joel Pereira (Vitoria Setubal) and Dean Henderson (Sheffield United), plus defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (Scunthorpe United) and midfielder Matty Willock (St Mirren) have already departed on a temporary basis.