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Manchester United transfer news: Andreas Pereira and Axel Tuanzebe sign long-term contracts

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making true of his promise to put a lot of emphasis on the club's academy graduates

Friday 05 July 2019 12:49 BST

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Marcus Rashford signs new four-year contract at Manchester United

Andreas Pereira has signed a new four-year contract at Manchester United, while Axel Tuanzebe has committed to the club until 2022, the Premier League side have announced.

The news comes days after Marcus Rashford committed his future to the club as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues to focus on United's academy graduates.

Pereira is now committed to the Old Trafford outfit until 2023, with the option to extend for a further year.

The 23-year-old, who came through the United academy, enjoyed a breakthrough 2018-19 campaign and has made 35 first-team appearances.

After beginning the campaign on the fringes of selection under Jose Mourinho, he was given a run in the side in the second half of the season by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

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1/12Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Stay or go? Transfer verdict 2019

Jack Pitt-Brook runs down the biggest transfer sagas awaiting us this summer and whether they will actually happen or not

AFP/Getty

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

David De Gea

This has been the worst season in years for the best goalkeeper in the world. He struggled at the World Cup then his form declined over the end of a difficult season. Now he wants a pay-rise to get parity with Alexis Sanchez. United have not offered him that, but De Gea knows that PSG would give him the money that he wants. Juventus are interested too. He has one year left and so if United cannot make him an acceptable offer then his long association with the club could be about to end. Verdict: 50/50

REUTERS

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Wilfried Zaha

Always linked with a move to a top club, and this summer Zaha is keen to make that big step again. But having been rewarded with new long-term contracts from Crystal Palace in the past to ward off interest, his club have the upper hand over his future. So while there are plenty of clubs - like Arsenal - who might like Zaha if he was available for £40m, there is less appetite to pay the £80m it would cost to get him out of Selhurst Park. And with four years left on his deal there, Zaha is unlikely to get the move that he wants. Verdict: stay

Action Images via Reuters

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Mesut Ozil

One of the great unanswered questions of the Unai Emery era has been the role of Mesut Ozil. Arsenal’s best paid and most famous player has been pushed out to the fringes this season, with Emery only appreciating in games where he will not have to do too much physical work. Over the season he started just 20 of Arsenal’s 38 league games. The problem is the ludicrous contract he was given in January 2018, a decision that Arsene Wenger soon came to regret and that has hamstrung Emery too. It means there are no takers for him, and he has no interest to leave. Verdict: stay

Reuters

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Ilkay Gundogan

Pep Guardiola’s first signing at Manchester City finished the season in the best form of his time at the club, instrumental in City’s 14-game winning streak that secured them the title. But his future is not clear. He only has one year left on his contract and has dragged his heels on signing a new one, knowing that at 28 years old this could be the last big contract of his career. Guardiola said at Wembley on Saturday night that if he does not sign then he will be sold, with Barcelona interested in signing him. There will need to be a breakthrough in negotiations to keep him at the club. Verdict: 50/50

Getty Images

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Alexis Sanchez

Like Pogba, a man United were delighted to sign but who has not quite delivered on that promise during his time at Old Trafford. Like Ozil, a player who has proven difficult to move because of the contract he negotiated 18 months ago. Sanchez earns more than £500,000 per week and not many other clubs want to pay that. Only now from Inter Milan is there serious interest, with talks now open on a move, with Untied keen to write off a badly-judged investment. Verdict: go

Getty

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

James Maddison

It was only Maddison’s first season in the Premier League but he created more chances than anyone, finishing up with over 100, split evenly between set pieces and open play. He has played with the same confidence and ability he showed all the way through his young career so far, at Coventry City, Aberdeen and Norwich City. The only question is what next. Manchester City, Liverpool and Spurs have been following Maddison his whole career but he has always put football first. And while that interest is still there, he is not expected to leave Leicester yet. Especially given the recent arrival of Brendan Rodgers. Verdict: stay

Getty

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Christian Eriksen

For most of this year the presumption at Spurs was that this would be Christian Eriksen’s last season. Because he had one year left on his deal and was not signing a new one. Real Madrid would be his destination and Spurs were already lining up replacements. But there have been plenty of changes at Madrid recently, with Zinedine Zidane coming in and changing their transfer plans. Now the transfer is less certain and there are is even talk of fresh transfer negotiations. His departure is not inevitable yet. Verdict: 50/50

REUTERS

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Harry Maguire

With Vincent Kompany off to Anderlecht, and Nicolas Otamendi likely to leave too, Manchester City want a new centre-back. According to the Mail, they have identified Leicester’s Harry Maguire. He knows the league and would also help them with their home-grown quota for their Champions League squad. But as a 26-year-old England international at an established Premier League side, he is not going to be cheap. Verdict: go

Reuters

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Jadon Sancho

Manchester United made Sancho their top transfer target for this summer and were willing to pay £100million to get the teenager out of Borussia Dortmund. But that move will now not be happening, Sancho and his advisers having decided that Old Trafford would not be the right environment for his development. While a move is still theoretically possible - if PSG or Real Madrid pay the asking price - it is far more likely that the 19-year-old Sancho will stay at Dortmund for another season of development now. Verdict: stay

AP

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Toby Alderweireld

It speaks volumes to Mauricio Pochettino’s motivational powers that he has got such a good season out of Alderweireld when it looked last summer as if player and club were set to part ways. Alderweireld wanted a move to Manchester United last summer but there was never an agreement on price so he had to stay. Spurs have taken the option in his contract, which means he will be available this summer to any team who pays £25million for him. This will surely be the point when his four-year spell at the club ends, with one of the richer teams likely to see him as a perfect short-term defensive solution. Verdict: go

Getty Images

Transfer verdict 2019: Stay or go?

Paul Pogba

When Zinedine Zidane return to the Real Madrid’s manager’s job he made Paul Pogba a priority and now it depends on how much Madrid want to back him. Pogba himself is interested in a move to Madrid, and has been for years. And while Pogba’s form did improve after Jose Mourinho’s departure at Christmas, there is also a view at Old Trafford that they would be better off without a player who is so inconsistent, and who some view as a negative dressing room influence. United would still need to recoup most of the £89m fee for him to sell, however. Verdict: 50/50

AFP/Getty Images

Pereira told the club's website: "I have spent so long in Manchester that I now regard the city and the club as my home and I'm extremely happy to continue my career here.

"The manager has shown great faith in me and I can't wait to get this campaign started under him."

Pereira joined the United Academy during the 2011-12 season and has previously had loan spells at Granada and Valencia.

United boss Solskjaer believes he has the mentality to succeed at the club.

Solskjaer said: "Andreas is another player brought through our Academy that understands what it means to play for Manchester United.

"He came from another country but quickly understood the values of playing for this club and doesn't take it for granted.

Andreas Pereira increased in importance to United under Solskjaer (Getty)

"Andreas has become an important member of the squad with his energy and hard work in midfield.

"He works non-stop every day in training, has a great character and knows what he has to do to continue his development here."

Meanwhile, Tuanzebe has committed his future to the club by signing a deal that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2022 with the option of a fourth year.

Tuanzebe, 21, is a product of the club's youth academy and spent last season on-loan at Aston Villa, where he helped the club win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

The United manager says players in the academy should look up to Tuanzebe (Getty)

The defender, who will join the first team on their pre-season tour, said: “I have grown up at Manchester United and it has always been a big part of my life and my family’s life. I appreciate the trust that the club has in me and I want to repay that with my performances on the pitch.

“I know I have a lot of hard work and learning ahead of me but the experience I gained throughout last season puts me in good stead for the future ahead. I am determined to give everything and show everyone the player that I can be.

“I can’t wait for the tour to get started and to see what the upcoming season brings.”

Manager Solskjaer said the youngster is a player that other members of the academy should look be inspired by.

“Axel is a great example of the type of player that has come through the Manchester United system. He is humble, hard-working, talented and a team player," he said.

“He had a successful time on loan with Aston Villa and has gained a lot of experience from that spell, which ended in promotion to the Premier League. He will come on the pre-season tour with us which will help his development further.”

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