Aston Villa hijack Newcastle’s pursuit of £49m Johan Manzambi from Freiburg

Midfielder faced Villa in May’s Europa League final U-turn is further summer transfer blow for Newcastle Aston Villa have hijacked Newcastle’s pursuit of Johan Manzambi, and are close to completing a £49m deal with Freiburg for the Switzerland midfielder. Manzambi’s arrival will boost Villa before a season in which they return to the Champions League and represents a considerable blow for Newcastle. St James’ Park executives thought they had sealed a deal for the versatile 20-year-old, who…