Newcastle United are looking to sign Manchester United youngster Axel Tuanzebe. However, the Geordies must wait for Harry Maguire's potential move from Leicester City to go through before anything can happen, according to The Daily Mail.

New manager Steve Bruce is said to want defensive reinforcements ahead of the new season as he looks to play three at the back.

Manchester United are hesitant in letting Tuanzebe leave without a replacement signed first, with Bruce keen to be reunited with the player he managed at Aston Villa last season.

Links with a move away from Manchester United come as no surprise especially due to the fact Tuanzebe's career at the club currently stalling thus far. The England youth international has made just eight first-team appearances for the Old Trafford giants and has been loaned out on two separate occasions to Aston Villa over the last 18 months.

Tuanzebe has enjoyed a good spell away from the north-west as he formed part of the Aston Villa side that won promotion back to the Premier League last season. The 21-year-old made 25 appearances, including starts in all three games in the play-offs.

The youngster has built up the experience the Red Devils would have wanted him to gain. However, if they feel he is surplus to requirements after a move for Maguire, then the youngster should not hesitate in leaving.

Manchester United's insistence on keeping Chris Smalling and Phil Jones is baffling. Someone like Tuanzebe deserves the chance, especially after a season where the club conceded a record amount of goals in the Premier League (54).

"He came here as a right-back. But I always felt he had the capabilities to be a really good centre-half. He is proving that. He has really grown here. He is showing an awful lot of composure. His awareness has also got better, perhaps with experience of playing," were the words of Dean Smith back in January when speaking about how good of a defender Tuanzebe has become (via Daily Mirror).

Factor in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's desire to seemingly focus on utilising younger players following the signings of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James, Tuanzebe could really be a decent option here.

The 21-year-old deserves his chance next season, but if he is not given the opportunity he should move on in search of a club where he will start.

Manchester United fans, should the club keep hold of Tuanzebe? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!