Manchester United fans don't fear! Axel Tuanzebe is here!

That's the message Class of 92' graduate and MUTV analyst Ben Thornley has conveyed in an exclusive interview with Tribalfootball.

United supporters (and Tribal Football readers) are embroiled in a fierce debate over whether the club should meet Leicester City's demands for Harry Maguire.

The 2016 Premier League winners want between £80m and £90m for the 26-year-old.

Some supporters believe United are being held to ransom by the Foxes, while others think signing a defender of Maguire's ilk is an absolute necessity for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

A happy medium might be found in Thornley's assessment of Tuanzebe, who helped steer Aston Villa to promotion in his 30 appearances for the club last season.

Solskjaer has been happy with the 21-year-old in preseason, picking him to partner Victor Lindelof in Saturday's 1-0 win over Inter Milan.

Thornley watched the England U21 international come through the ranks at Carrington, and believes supporters should feel confident about him starting against Chelsea on August 11.

He told TribalFootball.com: "I feel [great about the way] the lads have been performing and certainly that the way the new lads have integrated into the team and performed so well so far.

"And with the introduction of Axel Tuanzebe, who obviously had that full season playing 30 odd times for [Aston] Villa, he's like having a new player as well.

"Should we not get a Harry Maguire coming into the ranks, I have absolutely no nerves whatsoever that he could be a real solid defender alongside, I would imagine, Victor Lindelof as the other first choice."

Tuanzebe, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, penned a new three-year extension with United earlier this month.

He has been with United since the age of eight and won the club's Reserve Team Player of the Year award in May 2017.