Aston Villa are now set to sign Johan Manzambi.
The Freiburg midfielder moving to Villa Park.
The very reliable David Ornstein of The Athletic with the exclusive on Sunday night.
Newcastle United had been widely reported to have verbally agreed a £49m transfer fee with Freiburg, a verbal agreement reached as well on personal terms between NUFC and Johan Manzambi.
The Switzerland international though said to be waiting until his nation exited the World Cup before finalising any deal.
In the early hours of Sunday (UK time), Switzerland knocked out of the tournament by Argentina and Johan Manzambi now going to finalise a move to the Premier League, only not to Newcastle United.
David Ornstein reporting: ‘Aston Villa are in the process of finalising a move to sign midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg. Manzambi looked on course to join Newcastle United after a club-to-club agreement was reached, but the 20-year-old had yet to decide on his preferred destination. That enabled Villa to accelerate their existing interest, which was heightened by the loss of Amadou Onana to a knee ligament injury. They have since intensified efforts to strike a deal with their Bundesliga counterparts and the player, who favours a move to Villa Park.’
The man from The Athletic going on to say: ‘The finances have never been an issue for Newcastle but other suitors were always in contention, which produced caution at St James’ Park about the chances of landing him. Newcastle accelerated on other targets in the background over the last week given the delay and had never been fully convinced he wanted to join.’