Aston Villa are pushing to sign Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi in a deal that would see them leapfrog Newcastle United, who had previously been considered the frontrunners to land the 20-year-old.

Newcastle had positioned themselves as the leading candidates to secure Manzambi's signature, with reports placing the fee in the region of £50 million. However, BBC Sport reported that the club had grown cautious amid wider interest in the player, leaving the door open for rivals to enter the race.

A record-breaking fee on the cards

Should Villa complete the transfer, the deal could surpass the club's existing record — the £50 million they paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years ago. That figure now serves as the benchmark for what Villa are prepared to spend.

Onana's absence is part of what is driving Villa's urgency. The midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Belgium's last-16 victory over the United States at the World Cup, and is expected to be sidelined until next year.

Villa are also bracing for the departure of Youri Tielemans, with Manchester United in active discussions to sign the Belgium international. The twin absences leave Villa short in the engine room heading into a UEFA Champions League campaign.

Champions League football the key lure

Manzambi is understood to be drawn by the prospect of competing in the UEFA Champions League for the first time — a competition Villa will contest next season. The youngster is already familiar with the club, having faced them in the UEFA Europa League final in May, when Unai Emery's side ran out 3-0 winners in Istanbul.

He has since emerged as one of the standout players of the World Cup, becoming the youngest player to register five goal involvements at a single tournament since 1966.

Financial balancing act for Villa

Villa are navigating a tight financial window as they work to remain compliant with UEFA's financial regulations. Left-back Lucas Digne is close to returning to Paris St-Germain, and forward Lewis Dobbin is set to join Southampton for approximately £9 million.

Dobbin, who joined Villa from Everton for £10 million in 2024, never made a first-team appearance for the club. He spent last season on loan at Preston, with previous spells at West Brom and Norwich also on his record.

Another blow for Newcastle?

Missing out on Manzambi would represent a significant setback for Newcastle. Just weeks ago, the club lost the race for Victor Munoz to Liverpool, and before that they were unsuccessful in pursuits of Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Benjamin Sesko, and James Trafford.

The talent-spotting has not been the problem — converting interest into signings clearly has. With the transfer window still open, Newcastle will hope to pivot quickly, as they did when Bazoumana Toure arrived following the Munoz disappointment. But the margin for further frustration is growing thin.