Expert insight from Germany 

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It’s all going horribly wrong for Newcastle United this summer. After some high-profile outgoings and more potentially on the way out, the Magpies have been busy trying to secure some new signings for Eddie Howe. Despite reaching a full agreement with Freiburg to sign midfielder Johan Manzambi, the North East outfit now look set to miss out as Aston Villa are hijacking their deal.

A package thought to be worth €60 million had been agreed between the clubs, with a long-term contract being prepared. The Switzerland international has shone at the World Cup, scoring three goals, but the 20-year-old was already being tracked by top clubs pre-tournament. But Manzambi stalled over moving to St. James’ Park, allowing Villa to capitalise and they are now the player’s preferred destination, according to The Athletic. It comes just weeks after Victor Muñoz snubbed Tyneside for Merseyside, joining Liverpool in a €40m deal after Newcastle were trumped at the eleventh hour.

Manzambi has a current market value of €50m. Newcastle have already confirmed the signing of winger Bazoumana Touré for €47m and Sean Steur from Ajax, but have lost midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and with reports suggesting that Bruno Guimarães wants to move to Arsenal. Manzambi is earning the reputation as one of the finest young midfielders in the game, and with expert insight from our team in Germany, we bring you the inside track on the Swiss starlet.

Inside track from Germany on Johan Manzambi

Jannek Ringen is one of Transfermarkt’s Content Managers in Germany and has been watching Manzambi closely. He tells us more about the young midfielder: “Manzambi has enjoyed a meteoric rise since becoming a permanent fixture in the Freiburg squad at the end of the 2024/25 season. Last season, he was one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga and also demonstrated his qualities at European level in the Europa League. There are no limits to what Manzambi can achieve following last season, although, like many Bundesliga professionals, he would certainly need some time to settle in the Premier League.”

So, what kind of attributes does Manzambi boast that could see him thrive in the English top-flight? “He is a classic box-to-box midfielder whose strengths lie in his physical and technical abilities,” reveals Ringen. “He seeks out plenty of challenges and wins the majority of them; he is also capable of carrying the ball long distances up the pitch. With his runs into the penalty area, he poses a goal threat, and is good at finishing and can also provide assists. His defensive play has room for improvement, and he is occasionally over-eager in challenges, which has led to two red cards this season. Overall, he offers an exciting combination of physical and technical attributes that is perfectly suited to the Premier League.”

Asked what player past or present that Manzambi reminds him of, Ringen said: “Given his goal-scoring threat and dribbling ability, Manzambi could be compared to Jude Bellingham, although the latter is, of course, on a different level. But in terms of playing style, there are quite a few similarities between the two. In a historical context, Yaya Touré might be a good comparison; he was probably even stronger defensively, but possesses similar attributes. It’s important to note that this is purely a comparison of player types and not a judgement on quality. Nevertheless, I believe Manzambi has the potential to reach that level one day, even if he isn’t quite there yet.

“I think Manzambi, with all his attributes, is a perfect fit for the Premier League. He is physically strong, can cover the pitch at high speed and is a real goal threat. Essentially, his profile matches what many Premier League clubs are looking for. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that many players from the Bundesliga need time to settle into the Premier League before they get used to the pace. However, I believe Manzambi will manage this quickly.”