It is a new era for Aston Villa – and Johan Manzambi will be one of the poster boys.
The report indicates that it is a new era for Aston Villa – and Johan Manzambi will be one of the poster boys.
It further notes that after ending a 30-year wait for a trophy with May’s Europa League triumph, Villa have broken their transfer record to sign the Switzerland midfielder in a deal worth more than £50m from Freiburg.
Newcastle were close to signing Manzambi last week only for Villa to step in and snatch him.
With Youri Tielemans joining Manchester United for £35m and Amadou Onana out with a knee injury until next year, Villa needed to bolster their midfield options.
They are also due to seal a £38m move for Wolves’ Joao Gomes – but it is 20-year-old Manzambi who represents the start of something different at Villa Park.
While Newcastle were hopeful of landing one of their top targets, their interest was always laced with caution.
Those close to the Magpies were surprised at why the confidence was not absolute – but after losing out to Liverpool for Víctor Munoz, having also seen Hugo Ekitike go to Anfield last year, Newcastle were nervous.
Their fears proved well founded as Manzambi wavered and Villa pounced.
He was being coveted by more than half of the Premier League and represents the start of a Villa refresh.
Manzambi had been on Villa’s watchlist since the start of last season, and there was always an expectation he would move this summer.
It is believed that Manzambi’s knee injury, which ruled him out of Switzerland’s last-16 win over Colombia and quarter-final defeat by Argentina at the World Cup, gave him time to decide his future amid Newcastle‘s interest.
There is also an acceptance it was now or never for Villa as he could have been out of their price range if he moved elsewhere and succeeded, especially given the sharp rise at international level – playing just twice for Switzerland Under-21s before his senior elevation.
Having excelled in the Bundesliga and helped Freiburg to the Europa League final where they lost to Villa, the calculated risk to make him the club’s record signing is seen as one which is worth it.
His versatility – especially with Onana’s serious knee injury – makes him even more important.
