Aston Villa have pulled off a dramatic transfer hijack, seizing Newcastle United's long-pursued target Johan Manzambi in a £49m deal with Freiburg. The 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder had been the subject of a flying visit by St James’ Park executives to Germany last week, but after Manzambi gave only verbal assurances, Villa stepped in the moment Switzerland exited the World Cup on Sunday.
Manzambi had been one of the tournament's breakout stars. Manager Murat Yakin had little choice but to start him after he came off the bench and scored a double against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland's second group game. He went on to repay Yakin's faith with a goal and an assist on his full World Cup debut versus Canada, then set up his side's opener in the round of 32 victory over Algeria. A knee injury ruled him out of the last-16 win against Colombia, and he missed the quarter-final defeat to Argentina — but not before becoming the youngest player to chalk up five goal involvements at a single World Cup since records began in 1966.
“Aston Villa hijack Newcastle's £49m deal for Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi after Switzerland's World Cup exit.”
Close friend Yann Sturm said: “I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more from him over the coming years.” That thirst to improve was evident at Freiburg, where then-reserve team manager Benedetto Muzzicato recalled how Manzambi once asked to go over the game plan again because it “didn’t feel right”. Muzzicato said: “He wants to improve every single day. If anything, you have to slow him down rather than motivate him.”
Manzambi was a key cog in the Freiburg side that reached the Europa League final for the first time last season — a final they lost to Villa. He made 47 appearances, scoring seven goals and contributing nine assists, and was named the competition's young player of the season. Villa's victory in that final meant they were not an unknown quantity for the midfielder, who is believed to have harboured reservations about moving to Newcastle.
For Newcastle, the U-turn is another summer transfer blow. Eddie Howe's side finished a disappointing 12th in the Premier League last season and have already lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to Barcelona and Tottenham respectively, while Liverpool swooped for early summer target Víctor Muñoz from Osasuna. With Bruno Guimarães having told the club’s hierarchy he wants to leave — preferably for Arsenal — Howe is anxious to balance youthful promise with experience. Newcastle are implementing a new policy of buying players aged 24 or younger and ideally costing less than £40m, having spent around £80m on three teenagers: goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, winger Bazoumana Toure and midfielder Sean Steur. They are now waiting to see whether Arsenal make a formal offer for Guimarães, and are also long admirers of Tottenham's Archie Gray.