The collapse of the deal is a bitter pill for Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who has seen the club struggle to get major signings over the line recently. There has been an understandable anxiety among the Newcastle fan-base when it comes to Manzambi, given how the club were gazumped by Liverpool for Victor Munoz last month.
Newcastle have pushed hard, with the executive team holding face-to-face talks with Freiburg and also trying to convince the player, his camp and his family as to why St James’ Park is where his development would be best served, but he now appears set to head to Villa instead.