It was last weekend when it was first revealed that Newcastle United were trying to sign Johan Manzambi.
Sky Sports reporting that United were in talks to capture the exciting 20-year-old midfielder.
After an excellent season with Freiburg (aged only 19 when the 2025/26 Bundesliga season kicked off) Johan Manzambi was a key player as the German club reached the Europa League final and finished seventh in the Bundesliga. He managed 13 direct goal involvements in total last season for his club from midfield, scoring seven and getting six assists.
I have seen quite a bit of Johan Manzambi at this World Cup. Watching a lot of matches and I do always take an extra bit of interest when Switzerland play, a legacy from when Fabian Schar was pretty much the only high profile quality United player at major tournaments.
I am an early riser anyway but I did make sure I was up for 4am to watch Switzerland this Friday morning, Johan Manzambi and Switzerland taking on Algeria in Vancouver for a place in the last 16. Obviously I wanted to take special notice of the 20-year-old Swiss midfielder with Newcastle United now reported to be in advanced talks to sign him.
All I can say is that I just hope Newcastle United have the Johan Manzambi signing tied up after watching this.
Algeria actually started the better team, only then for Manzambi to put Switzerland in command when from nothing he laid on the opening goal in the 10th minute.
Johan Manzambi with brilliant play as he ran with the ball from just inside the Algeria half, skill and pace as he dribbled into the heart of the opposition defence, beat his opponent before delivering a lovely cutback for Embolo who couldn’t miss.
This set in motion a brilliant performance from Johan Manzambi as he helped Switzerland dominate the match, Ndoye scored on 46 minutes and Switzerland cruised into the last 16.
In his last three matches at this World Cup, Johan Manzambi has scored twice against Bosnia and Herzegovina,, he scored and got an assist against co-hosts Canada to see Switzerland top their group. Now he has assisted that opening goal against Algeria.
At the age of 20 years 261 days, Johan Manzambi becoming the youngest player to get five direct goal involvements at a World Cup finals since 1966.
Switzerland have now reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the fourth successive tournament and they will face the winner of Colombia and Ghana on 7 July at 9pm (UK time) in Vancouver.
Newcastle United are targeting a number of young talents at this World Cup, players who have their best years ahead of them and time to develop into even bigger talents.
Back in May it was first reported in France that Newcastle were wanting to sign Monaco’s Lamine Camara, a 22-year-old midfielder. The past week has seen reports saying that United are in advanced talks to sign Camara now and with Senegal exiting the World Cup this week it could accelerate his arrival at St James’ Park.
That has certainly been the case with Bazoumana Toure, like Johan Manzambi he is also only 20 and has also excelled in the Bundesliga this season, in his case with Hoffenheim..
With Ivory Coast exiting the World Cup this midweek, that then saw news breaking that Newcastle United had agreed a transfer fee of around £43m for the exciting young winger. With his World Cup over, Toure flew direct from the USA to Newcastle on Thursday in order to take his medical and then be formally announced as another summer signing for NUFC.
I just hope it is a similar story with Johan Manzambi, that a move to Newcastle United has been agreed behind the scenes with both the player and Freiburg, with hopefully keeping it under wraps until the player and Switzerland exit the tournament. Then allowing the Swiss midfielder to travel to Tyneside and formally complete his move.
He looks a massive talent and it would be gutting now if he signed for another club.
The thing is, the way Johan Manzambi and Switzerland are now playing, it could still be some time before they get knocked out of the World Cup. They will have every chance against Ghana or Colombia in their last 16 match on Tuesday (7 July) and then if getting through that, Switzerland would have a quarter-final class on Saturday 11 July.