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Topics: Manchester United, Fabrizio Romano, Premier League, Axel Tuanzebe, Transfers
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester United, Fabrizio Romano, Premier League, Axel Tuanzebe, Transfers
Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe will leave the club this summer upon the expiry of his contract, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.
The 25-year-old centre-back came through United's academy before making 19 appearances for the senior team.
But he has been dogged by injuries in recent seasons, missing 47 games between October 2019 and October 2020.
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In pre-season, he suffered a back problem which ruled him out until January. Upon his recovery, he joined Stoke on loan until the end of the season.
However, Tuanzebe has been restricted to just four appearances during his temporary stint at the Potters. He missed the final eight games of the campaign through injury, and has now returned to Old Trafford.
As he enters the final weeks of his contract, Romano has confirmed that the defender will be released at the end of the campaign to look for pastures new.
Taking to Twitter, Romano wrote: "It's over between Manchester United and Axel Tuanzebe. The English centre-back will leave the club as free agent at the end of the season, decision made.
"After Aston Villa, Napoli and Stoke City loans, Tuanzebe is now looking for new chapter."
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Furthermore, Romano has also reported that fellow centre-back Phil Jones, who hasn't featured this season through injury, will also be released.
Despite his injury-hit spell at Stoke, Tuanzebe has impressed for the Potters when available - and manager Alex Neil has stated his belief that the Championship side could sign the centre-back permanently this summer.
He said (quotes via Stoke-on-Trent Live): "I don't think anything is off the table.
"You'll have a section of people who will say we don't stand a chance of getting him, him or him. That's rubbish. You'll have another section saying we'll definitely sign him, him and him. That's also rubbish.
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"There is every possibility that we could sort something out to try to keep the fabric of the team at the moment, which I think at the moment is functioning very well together, and then try to grow and add to it in the summer. That's the aim.
"It'll be down to negotiations, their willingness to want to come, fees and all that sort of stuff."