It looks very much like Johan Manzambi is going to be an Aston Villa player and not a Newcastle United one.
It’s a familiar feeling – Newcastle missing out on someone that they had worked hard to bring to St James’ Park and appeared to be close to completing a deal for.
However, despite reaching an agreement with Manzambi’s German club, Freiburg, nothing had been signed by the player.
He still had to decide where his future was going to be and Villa, who can offer Champions League football this season, stepped up their interest in the 20-year-old midfielder and he is on his way there instead.
Manzambi missed Switzerland’s final two matches at the World Cup with a knee injury. We’re not sure how serious it is.
But he had a great campaign for Freiburg, got the Europa League young player of the season award and played in the final against Villa, who won the trophy and therefore came across him in person just a couple of months ago.
Financially for Newcastle that deal wouldn’t have been a problem, not least because of the money they have brought in already this summer – but when you miss out on another top target when it appeared to be close, it’s frustrating and looks a bit embarrassing again, particularly as it has been played out in public.
It’s another big disappointment in the transfer market.
They are identifying top players but, in some high-profile cases, they are just not able to get the deals done and other clubs are nipping in. It’s a bad look and a bad feeling.
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