Aston Villa stun Newcastle with sensational Johan Manzambi hijack

Aston Villa have stunned Newcastle United (and their fans) with a sensational move for Johan Manzambi, the SC Freiburg attacking midfielder.

David Ornstein broke the news on Sunday evening and, if it reaches the finish line as expected, Aston Villa will have pulled off one of the biggest transfer coups of the summer.

According to Ornstein, Villa are in the process of finalising a deal for Freiburg the Swiss World Cup star, despite Newcastle United having already reached an agreement with the Bundesliga club. The crucial difference was that the player himself had not committed to Eddie Howe's side, allowing Villa to accelerate their long-standing interest and move into pole position.

It is a remarkable development.

If you'd asked any Villa supporter 24 hours ago whether the club could spend in excess of £50million this summer without first making a major sale, the answer would almost certainly have been no. The messaging from every direction has been consistent: Villa needed to sell before they could buy.

That's why this news has come as such a shock.

I've spoken briefly to Jacob Tanswell, who is away at the moment, and understandably couldn't go into detail because it isn't his story. But like every Villa fan, I'm desperately trying to work out exactly how the club have managed to put themselves in this position.

For weeks we've discussed financial restrictions, UEFA's settlement agreement and the difficulties Villa face under the current rules. Every conversation has centred around who might leave, not who might arrive.

Yet suddenly Villa appear to be on the verge of smashing their transfer record.

It's a welcome change of direction.

Ornstein reported that Villa's interest intensified following Amadou Onana's serious knee injury, with the Belgian's absence creating a need for another midfield option. He also revealed that Manzambi himself favours the move to Villa Park, despite Newcastle's extensive efforts to convince him otherwise.

Newcastle had done plenty of work on the deal. They'd negotiated with Freiburg, held face-to-face meetings and believed they were in a strong position. The only thing missing was the player's final decision.

Villa took advantage.

From a Newcastle perspective, it has to be another crushing blow. They've already endured frustration in the market this summer and this is another example of a player ultimately choosing a different destination. It's hard not to have some sympathy for their supporters because this keeps happening.

For Villa, though, it's a reminder of just how attractive the club has become as a destination.

Champions League football is a huge pull, particularly when it's coupled with the chance to work under Unai Emery. It's easy to see why a player with Manzambi's potential would look at Villa and feel it's the right place for the next stage of his career.

That's the question everyone is asking.

The obvious answer is that Onana's injury removes a significant salary from the wage bill for the foreseeable future. There are also the departures of loan players such as Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott, whose wages represented a substantial commitment last season.

Louie Barry has departed. Malen has been sold. There has been movement on the wage bill.

But whether that alone explains a transfer of this magnitude is another matter entirely.

The mechanics of UEFA's regulations are incredibly complex and, until somebody involved explains exactly how this deal has been structured, nobody outside the club truly knows.

That's why I'm reluctant to jump to conclusions.

Could there still be a significant sale later in the window?

Absolutely.

Does this guarantee Morgan Rogers or anyone else stays?

No.

But what it does prove is that Villa have found a way to move before making that sale, which is something many of us believed simply wasn't possible.

That alone feels encouraging.

Beyond the finances, I absolutely love this move.

At 20 years old, Manzambi is exactly the type of signing Villa should be making.

He's young. He's already producing at a high level.

He impressed throughout Freiburg's run to the Europa League final before showcasing his talent again for Switzerland at the World Cup.

He isn't arriving as a project who might be useful in three years' time. He's arriving as someone capable of competing for a place immediately.

I've watched enough of him to think he suits Emery perfectly.

He can operate centrally or from the left, carries the ball brilliantly, drives at defenders, presses aggressively and possesses the athleticism Villa have perhaps lacked in attacking areas.

In many ways he reminds me stylistically of Jacob Ramsey.

He's capable of playing as one of Emery's two attacking midfielders but also has the ability to drift wide and attack space. He's creative, direct, works relentlessly and has an eye for goal.

That's exactly the profile Villa's squad has needed refreshing with. For me, this isn't simply about replacing a body in the squad. This is about raising the level.

Villa supporters have spent most of this summer worrying.

Who leaves?

Can Villa spend?

Will financial restrictions completely derail another transfer window?

This changes the mood.

It doesn't solve every problem overnight and there will undoubtedly be more twists before the window closes.

But signing one of Europe's most highly-rated young attacking midfielders - and doing so ahead of Newcastle - sends a message.

This is a genuine statement signing.

If the reported fee ends up sitting around €70million including add-ons, it will comfortably eclipse Villa's previous transfer record.

That's extraordinary considering where we all thought Villa were financially just a few days ago.

We all want to understand how they've managed it.

But for now, perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: Aston Villa have once again shown that, under Unai Emery, they can be an incredibly attractive destination for elite young talent.

If Johan Manzambi completes the move, it won't just be one of the biggest transfers in the club's history.

It could prove to be one of the most important in recent years.