Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe has been heavily linked with a loan move away from Old Trafford this summer.

What's the story?

According to the Manchester Evening News, fellow Premier League side Newcastle United are in pole position to sign the 23-year-old over the coming months, although Aston Villa are also interested in securing his signature.

The report states that Tuanzebe feels he deserved more opportunities to impress last season and received a lack of recognition for his performances, meaning a temporary move away from his boyhood appears to be something he is keen on.

He's not good enough

Tuanzebe found regular game time hard to come by in 2020/21, making just 19 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils.

He received widespread adulation for his outstanding performance against French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stages in what was his first start for a year, but the youngster started just eight more matches throughout the campaign.

And with the imminent arrival of World Cup-winning centre-back Varane expected to push Tuanzebe even further down United's pecking order, a loan move may be the best solution for all parties.

The former England Under-21 international's lack of first-team minutes likely indicate that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn't believe he's good enough to be a regular for the 20-time English champions at this stage in his career.

Therefore, the Norwegian tactician must let the £7.2m-rated Tuanzebe leave this this summer, allowing him to prove his worth and showcase his quality week in week out.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce signed the pacey defender in back-to-back seasons while at the helm of Villa during their time in the Championship, meaning a move to either St. James' Park or Villa Park would offer a comfortable setting with some familiarities.

Whether Tuanzebe can ever force his way into United starting XI on a regular basis remains to be seen, but a temporary transfer away from the Old Trafford spotlight is certainly a wise decision for the player's future prospects.

He's not been good enough to get regular game time for United, but that could change in the fututre if he can get a full season of Premier League football under his belt.

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