Axel Tuanzebe left Manchester United on deadline day to join Stoke City on loan. It will be his fifth loan move away from the club.
The centre-back has been unavailable all season due to an injury he sustained back in July and he is already far down the pecking order when it comes to Erik ten Hag’s list of options.
In turn, Tuanzebe has agreed a deal with Stoke City in an attempt to get back playing regular first team football. He was unable to achieve that during his two loan spells last season at Aston Villa before Napoli.
We all hope that this temporary move to the Potters will help get Tuanzebe back to speed.
A statement from Manchester United read: “Unfortunately, the homegrown defender has battled a series of injuries in recent years and he has not featured under Erik ten Hag as a result.
“But he has been working hard on his fitness all campaign and is now looking forward to registering some minutes on loan.”
Speaking about the move, Stoke City manager Alex Neil said (via club’s official website): “It was important that we added to our defensive resources and Axel is a player who knows the Championship and is keen to test himself at this level again.”
Tuanzebe could make his Stoke City debut on Saturday against Luton Town.
Stretty News verdict
Tuanzebe has always been a highly rated defender at Manchester United, but there is no denying that injuries hindered his development as a senior player.
I don’t think United should be sending 25-year-old academy players on loan to Stoke City, especially when there is already a feeling that Tuanzebe won’t make the grade at Old Trafford.
Surely that means it is time to move him on.
United need to get out of the habit of holding on to players who don’t cut the mustard just because they came through the youth system.
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