AXEL TUANZEBE could be en-route to Aston Villa for a third time this summer.
The Manchester United defender has already had two loan spells at Villa and they’re reportedly keen to make it a treble, according to Football Insider.
They claim a Villa source told them that Dean Smith’s side have concrete interest in the 23-year-old, and will make a formal approach for him if given the green light.
Smith is said to be on the prowl for a new centre-back since losing Bjorn Engels to Royal Antwerp this summer.
The West Midland side need cover for first-choice defensive duo Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.
And Tuanzebe fits the bill as he already knows the club and Premier League quite well.
But Villa may have competition for Tuanzebe’s signature with several other clubs rumoured to be hot on his heels.
The Congolese native, who came through the ranks at United, could be swayed to a move to Villa with the allure of first-team football.
A few days ago, SunSport reported that Tuanzebe had reportedly become disgruntled with life at Old Trafford.
The ex-England U-21 star is said to feel undervalued by the Red Devils who only gave him four league starts last season, which were all in May.
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He wants more time on the pitch and is willing to seek new pastures to make it a reality.
His situation is unlikely to improve at United who have a host of defenders above him in the pecking order.
Tuanzebe is fourth in line behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and the injury-ravaged Eric Bailly in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.
Solskjaer reflected on Tuanzebe’s role at the club at the end of the previous campaign.
He said: “Victor and Harry have done really well, Eric when he’s played, has played really well so Axel has played fourth fiddle, if you put it that way.”
