Aston Villa are set to complete the signing of Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi on Thursday, having already confirmed the deal himself.
Onze Mondial report that Aston Villa will finalise the deal for their new midfielder on Thursday after he confirmed the move following Switzerland’s defeat to Argentina in the World Cup quarter finals.
Aston Villa confirmation
The French outlet explains that Johan Manzambi was caught in conversation with Dibu Martinez after the game, providing an ‘unwitting confirmation’ of his move.
‘“So, you’re off to Villa,” the Argentine goalkeeper said to him. “Yes,” replied the Swiss midfielder, who had been forced to sit out the round of 16 and the Swiss team’s final match at the World Cup, report Onze Mondial.
They say that as far as the 20-year-old is concerned, ‘everything is set to happen very quickly’. The Freiburg midfielder is set to join Aston Villa ‘in the coming hours’. He will undergo a medical on Thursday and sign a five-year deal at Villa Park after that.
According to Onze Mondial’s sources, Aston Villa will pay €64m, including bonuses, for the breakout star of the World Cup.
Aston Villa need midfielders
Manzambi had been on the verge of joining Newcastle, who were eyeing him as a replacement for Sandro Tonali. But he has instead ended up at Aston Villa. They pushed themselves into the picture quickly over the last week.
That likely came after Youri Tielemans’ surprise departure to Manchester United. Manchester United signed him quickly thanks to a release clause in his deal at Villa Park.
His departure has left Unai Emery’s squad short on numbers in central midfielder. They’ve already lost Amadou Onana to a long-term knee injury, while Douglas Luiz has returned to Juventus following his loan deal.
Aston Villa will need more additions, and Manzambi may not be the only arrival this summer. A €30m bid for Gabriel Sara may be on the way too. For now, the focus is on finalising Manzambi’s move to Birmingham on Thursday.