OPINION
Aston Villa fans should prepare to say goodbye to Axel Tuanzebe at the end of the season after it was reported that the on-loan defender could have a role to play in the Manchester United first team next term.
According to the Daily Mail, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to have a close look at the 21-year-old in the pre-season with the view to handing him a role in his senior squad at Old Trafford.
Tuanzebe has been in great form while on loan at Villa Park despite missing around four months of the season with a fractured metatarsal.
Him and Tyrone Mings have proven to be a defensive brick wall in recent weeks as Dean Smith’s side have sealed their spot in the play-offs after a club record 10-game winning streak.
Tuanzebe spent the second-half of last season on loan at Aston Villa but only managed five Championship appearances before Steve Bruce decided to sign him on a season-long deal last summer.
He has been a mainstay this term, appearing 26 times across all competitions despite his fractured foot and his form has clearly caught the eye of Solskjaer.
Villa have re-signed Tuanzebe once already but it seems unlikely that they will be able to do it again as the Man United boss reportedly considers a first team role for the England Under-21 international.
It will be bittersweet for Villa fans to see Tuanzebe leave for good once the play-offs are finished, because they know that he will more than likely never play in claret and blue again, but will be making it at Premier League giants Man United.
Tuanzebe seems like he is heading for his final three or four games with Aston Villa though, and fans should try to soak in as much as possible because of what seems to be him impeding exit.