Axel Tuanzebe in action for United at Swansea City.

Mourinho: Tuanzebe could go on loan this season

Friday 12 January 2018 18:03

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho may allow defender Axel Tuanzebe to leave on loan, but a final decision on the youngster's future is being delayed.

The versatile 20-year-old has made three appearances for Jose Mourinho's side this term, after enjoying a successful first-team breakthrough in the second half of last season. Most recently, he travelled with the squad to Dubai for this week's warm-weather training camp.

There is believed to be interest in his services but any move would obviously be a temporary one with Tuanzebe rated so highly by Mourinho and the coaching team.
Tuanzebe travelled with the squad to Dubai for this week's warm-weather training camp
"Tuanzebe is a very good player that is not having lots of possibilities to play here," said the boss. "But he's our player and he will be our player - no chance we give up on such a talented boy. 

"But it is something we are thinking about, a loan until the end of the season. Yes or no. We are a bit afraid of injuries, of needs and needing him. We have Eric Bailly injured, we are not free of other injuries. So we are delaying the decision and we are going to delay it until the end of the transfer window. 

"If we have to make a decision, we are going to make it at the end of the month. Probably at the end of the month, if we have no fresh injuries, if Bailly is very close to being back or is already back, then it will be good for Axel to go on a loan and to be back for next season, as he is a player that we like very much."

The youth-team product impressed when playing 90 minutes in defence in October's Carabao Cup success at Swansea before appearing as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League win over CSKA Moscow and, most recently, the Premier League victory at Everton on New Year's Day.