Newcastle are hopeful of signing a loan deal for Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe, who could be their first signing of the summer in the coming days.
The Magpies hope to strengthen their group this summer, but with the infamous frugal Mike Ashley still at the helm, they do not have much of a budget to work with. Joe Willock, who impressed on loan at St James’ Park last season, remains the top priority, with Steve Bruce admitting he has been on the phone to Arsenal all summer trying to get him back.
Tuanzebe can leave Man Utd / Maja Hitij / Getty Images
However, the negotiations take their time and with the start of the Premier League season less than two weeks away, Newcastle cannot afford to wait until it is over before making other signings.
Reinforcement in midfield is high on their priority list, and as 90 minutes reported earlier on Monday, Axel Tuanzebe is a target they are keen to sign on loan. A new report from The Telegraph now claims that Steve Bruce is actively pushing for the deal to go ahead – and it can even be tied up before Willock’s situation is resolved.
Tuanzebe’s situation is directly related to the imminent arrival of Raphael Varane at Old Trafford, who will go straight into the starting XI and push United’s current supporting player further down the pecking order.
Sources have said 90 minutes that United are willing to get rid of two central defenders to make room, and Tuanzebe and Phil Jones are the two favorites to be sacrificed. Newcastle are also interested in Jones and would like a free transfer, but currently see a loan deal for Tuanzebe as the most preferred option.
Tuanzebe managed 19 games for United last season, which was an improvement of ten from the season before. But Varane’s arrival means they now have an established midfield pairing that will start most matches, while Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly also expect to be ahead of him in the breeding order.
