No Moves In or Out Before Deadline But Tuanzebe Set For Trial Friday, 1st Sep 2023 20:59 No players will be moving in or out of Town before tonight’s 11pm deadline, however, free agent former Manchester United centre-half Axel Tuanzebe will be joining the Blues on trial. Town have been looking to add another central defender to their ranks ahead of the window closing this evening. However, with Tuanzebe a free agent having been released by United in May, a deal can be done outside the transfer window. Claims on social media that the player, who was at Portman Road today, was close to signing but had an issue with a Town medical are wide of the mark. Manager Kieran McKenna knows Tuanzebe from their time at Old Trafford together and will now run the rule over him during the international break before making a decision on whether to add the 25-year-old to his squad. Former England U19, U20 and U21 international Tuanzebe, who has been linked with the Blues throughout the transfer window, has been training with Premier League new boys Luton Town recently but was unable to agree terms on a deal, despite impressing. Congo DR-born Tuanzebe moved to the UK aged four and came through the ranks at the Red Devils’ academy. The 6ft 1in tall defender made his United debut in the FA Cup in January 2017 and went on to make 21 starts and 15 sub appearances for United without scoring. While at United, he had three spells on loan at Aston Villa and further stints at Napoli, where he played only two games, and in the second half of last season Stoke City, making four starts and one sub appearance, having been hampered by injury. In addition to the trial spell with Luton and links with the Blues, Tuanzebe has also been mentioned in connection with moves to another of the newly-promoted Premier League clubs, Sheffield United, and Saudi Arabia. Speaking earlier today, manager McKenna said there might be one more exit before the window closed, which is understood to have been Elkan Baggott moving out on loan, almost certainly to Blackpool. However, with no senior centre-half lined up before the deadline, the Indonesia international will now be remaining at Town until January at least. The transfer window will close with the Blues having signed six players, Jack Taylor, Cieran Slicker, George Hirst and loan trio Omari Hutchinson, Brandon Williams and Dane Scarlett. Town have 25 players who qualify for the 25-man EFL squad which would become 26 with Tuanzebe but with fourth-choice keeper Nick Hayes likely to be left out and then perhaps loaned to a Vanarama National League side at some stage. Deadline day passed with Kyle Edwards's loan switch to Oxford United the only business.
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