Out-of-contract Town defender Axel Tuanzebe is being linked with a move to Trabzonspor in the Turkish media.

According to widespread reports, Fatih Tekke, head coach of Trabzonspor, is targeting Tuanzebe and Slavia Prague’s Christos Zafeiris.

The 27-year-old was previously interesting the Süper Lig side in the summer of 2022 while with Manchester United.

Town have been in talks with Tuanzebe regarding new terms for some while with his current terms up at the end of the month.

The DR Congo international has been a key man in the Blues side over the last couple of seasons after joining following his release by the Red Devils and his departure would be a blow, especially with Cameron Burgess, Town’s other senior player out of contract this summer, having already moved on to Swansea City.

While Turkish media reports are often not overly reliable, it would be a surprise if Tuanzebe hasn’t had interest from other clubs at home and abroad having been one of the Blues’ best performers in the Premier League despite his campaign being hampered by injuries.

Photo: Matchday Images

bringmeaKuqi added 10:17 - Jun 16 Would be a loss as he was unquestionably one of the better defenders in a poor defensive unit last year. Looked a touch of class at Championship level. But I wonder if the offers to Burgess and Tuanzebe made it clear they are not going to be first-choice options anymore and they both want a guarantee of games. We need to invest in defence if we want any chance of another prem season.

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Jugsy added 10:21 - Jun 16 bringmeaKuqi - Burgess wasn't going to be first choice but interested to understand what makes you think Axel wasn't going to be? I'd think he's one of the first on the team sheet when fit, Burge wasn't in the category. Unfortunately I can't see Axel staying. There's no way the club would want him out of contract, he's actively run this down to keep his options open. That's football... I don't blame him as he's proved that he's Prem quality. Sad but inevitable.

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GSH71 added 10:21 - Jun 16 All jumping ship now , he was too slow anyway , burgess will be a big miss, I don’t think we will be in playoff this season . Not now , as you need a good defence , O’Shea will be next mark my words
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Fermi_Parradox added 10:34 - Jun 16 Burgess has gone (wasn't actually going to start)... There is plenty of time to find replacements. Yet you are talking like we are now going to be mid table?. Nah Clarke and Johnson at right back is an automatic pushing pair. OShea and Greaves CB, with Wolfy as cover... Is a championship winning pair. Davis is the best progressive left back in the league, and many say Townsend is as good. Baggot as cover, I think is ok. But we may wish to pick up another well rounded CB to mix in and provide competition. Silverware incoming!

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Linkboy13 added 10:45 - Jun 16 Good player too many injuries for my liking wouldn't be upset if he departed.
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 10:55 - Jun 16 I'm guessing we're not offering a very long term contract. No way we would have offered Burgess a three year deal, so he made a prudent financial decision for economic security. Can see the same thing playing out with AT.
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Dissboyitfc added 11:14 - Jun 16 I come on here several times a day in the hope of some positive news, losing Tuanzebe would not be good, his injury record will I’m sure put possible suitors off, hopefully!
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Marinersnose added 11:15 - Jun 16 None of the potential departures are a surprise tbh but we have to be very careful not to sell our best players in the way Luton did when relegated from the PL. We have to invest in real quality who are able to make the step up. Recruiting wasn’t quite good enough but it’s extremely difficult when a team gets back to back promotion. Looking forward to seeing a competitive team this season

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gkroon89 added 11:33 - Jun 16 With Clarke and Johnson I don’t think Tuanzebe is needed. Tuanzebe is a a good defensive defender, but he is not good going forward. The formation 4-2-3-1 which we all know McKenna favours needs attacking full backs. This is not Tuanzebe’s game at all unfortunately.
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Bazza8564 added 11:37 - Jun 16 Hope Axel stays, but as others say Johnson and Clarke will be OK at RB. Need another LB because after listening the KOA padcast last week and MA talking about PSR, im pretty convinced we will sell Davis. Axel as a utility defender would be reassurance at the very least
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billlm added 11:55 - Jun 16 GSH71, your right we won't be in the playoffs we're going up automatically,
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terryball2012 added 12:02 - Jun 16 Read he was on £40k a week. Not worth anything like that. Injury and accident prone. In the Championship we need an attacking full back so not really bothered by this.
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NorthLondonBlue2 added 12:09 - Jun 16 I don't claim to be an expert, but it seems to me to be pretty obvious why a player, whose contract is running out, would choose to move, rather than stay, despite being offered a new contract: money Simply by moving clubs, the player can maintain, or improve their annual pay, while gaining a signing-on fee from the new club. So, in simple financial terms, a player may be much better off doing that, than staying on their existing contract. And it's much harder for the parent club to compete with a club, which is saving millions of pounds through not paying a transfer fee and is thereby able to pay a hefty signing on fee to the player. I have no idea if that is what happened with recent departures, but it seems to me to be the best move for the player and their familiies, given how short their careers are at best, which may be cut short at any moment by injury.

1

Cakeman added 12:28 - Jun 16 Time to let him go, he has had more than enough time to sign our contract offer
4

chepstowblue added 12:31 - Jun 16 It's always amusing to see fans start to play down the ability of players who have left or may leave. Burgess should have been ahead of Greaves for all of last season, and I'd get rid of both Clarke and Johnson if it meant keeping Tuanzebe. Until we add a few new faces, these are quite concerning times.
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blues1 added 12:35 - Jun 16 Linkboy13. Think ur pretty spot on with ur point. Good player, and would be happy for him to stay, but as u say, does seem a bit prone to hamstring issues, which isnt great if playing as a rb. Northlondonblue. U are pretty much right with what you say about clubs paying him to sign for them. But you do realise, that bcse hes out of contract here, he would get a,signing on fee here too if he agrees a new deal. So would likely be more down to wages and length of contract if he was to leave. Think he'll prob have been offered a longer deal than Burgess was tho, being 2 years younger.

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ChestnutSe added 12:58 - Jun 16 Turkey would be an exciting place to play your football
0

WhoisJimmyJuan added 13:06 - Jun 16 I'm with Cakeman on this. If he wants to leave, just go. I understand about the money, the guaranteed games, security etc.. But he's been paid an awful lot of money and the club has invested a hell of a lot in rehabilitation of him that theres no love lost for me. Would rather he stayed but only if he genuinely wants to, not because he couldn't get a better offer

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blueboy1981 added 13:30 - Jun 16 Some of you on here are so removed from reality it is unbelievable, all the previous blurb about the squad staying together and being too strong for the Championship - is already laughable - who, where, and when, are these adeqate replacements coming from ?? The focus now has to be on the Club avoiding a downward spiral !! The Safest thing right now is the Managers 5 year Contract - he has no worries whatever happens !!

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blue90 added 13:33 - Jun 16 I think Axel is our best defender and fully expect him to leave for better offers. After the jobs he did on Mitoma, Son etc last season, can see him going back to the prem and good luck to him.
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herfie added 13:33 - Jun 16 If money really is the bottom line for him - and in truth none of us really knows - then best he goes. We need players committed to the cause in return for a decent wage. If he decides to move on for career or family reasons, then so be it. No player is irreplaceable. Always seems to me that those choosing to play in Turkey never seem to stay there for more than one season. Remember Mr Celina?

2

Monkey_Blue added 14:05 - Jun 16 Would be a big blow in my opinion if we lost Axel. I know he has a bit of an injury history but he’s premier league quality, good enough to play at a team in the top half. I trust we have targets to replace any of the squad if they left but we picked up axel only because he’d had a long term injury and others were worried about committing. I’m also assuming his relationship with McKenna was crucial. We need to push the boat out to keep him.

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DavoIPB added 14:06 - Jun 16 Best defender at the club by a mile. The only one who is prem quality, O'Shea pushes him close though. Who said he is skow, quickest defender by a mile as well. We look so solid with him at right side. We would ship even more goals without him. Thought midfield and attack were going to be our weakest department. We now need to strengthen significantly in all departments. This is going to be huge challenge to compete this year.

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poet added 14:23 - Jun 16 In my opinion, when fit, Tuanzebe is a class act. His injuries have been quite varied, so perhaps it’s just a bit of bad luck, as opposed to an inherent problem. He’s out of contract, so he’s playing ‘the field’, and who could blame him! If he goes, I think he’d be very difficult to replace, in the Championship, perhaps even impossible.
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tractorboybig added 14:31 - Jun 16 a sick note, wont be missed, highly overrated by many
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