Newcastle target Axel Tuanzebe is reportedly set to leave Manchester United and join Aston Villa on loan.
The Magpies’ quest for a new signing this summer continues, as the defender joins a growing list of targets we’ve missed out on.
According to Sky Sports, Tuanzebe is set to sign a new one-year contract at Old Trafford before joining Villa on loan.
The 23-year-old will likely become their fourth signing of the summer, with Ashley Young, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey also joining.
Meanwhile, Newcastle can’t get a single player through the door.
This is massively worrying, with the new Premier League season set to kick off on August 15th. As it stands, we will begin the new campaign worse off than we finished the 2020/21 season.
Steve Bruce has been desperate for a defender all summer, but has seen multiple targets move elsewhere. Kristoffer Ajer joined Brentford, while William Saliba went to Marseille.
Eventually, it looked like Tuanzebe was the one. The Telegraph even claimed that he could become Newcastle’s first signing of the summer.
However, it looks like that honour will go to someone else. Or perhaps nobody…
It was reported by the Daily Mail that Manchester United wanted a £5million loan fee for Tuanzebe, which felt excessive. Then came claims that Newcastle were struggling with that fee.
Seemingly it’s no issue for Villa, who are reportedly set to sign the centre-back on loan for the third time. Then again, they do seem set to have £100million coming their way, so money is hardly tight.
But Aston Villa’s gain will be Newcastle’s loss. Tuanzebe could have been a decent acquisition, but it seems as though Bruce will have to look elsewhere once again for a new central defender.
The clock is ticking.
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