Aston Villa hijack Newcastle move as Villans reach agreement for Manzambi

Aston Villa are finalising a deal for Swiss sensation Johan Manzambi after stepping in to hijack Newcastle’s pursuit of the 20‑year‑old. Newcastle had reached a £52 million agreement with Freiburg following Manzambi’s standout World Cup, but negotiations stalled when the two sides failed to agree on personal terms. It marks another missed opportunity for Eddie Howe’s team, who recently saw Victor Munoz choose Liverpool despite a similar fee being agreed with Osasuna.

According to The Athletic, Villa accelerated their interest after midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a knee ligament injury, prompting the club to strengthen their attacking options. Manzambi impressed in North America, scoring three goals and providing an assist in four matches before a knee injury cut short his tournament.

Villa’s swift intervention now places them in pole position to secure one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards, leaving Newcastle frustrated once again in the transfer market.