Newcastle United were left frustrated earlier this summer after Liverpool hijacked their move for Victor Munoz.
The Magpies had spent weeks working on a deal for the Osasuna winger. They had already agreed the transfer fee, agent fees and personal terms with the player.
However, Liverpool moved quickly and triggered the Spaniard’s release clause before Newcastle could complete the transfer.
Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards then wrapped up the deal with a six-year contract at Anfield.
That disappointment arrived during a difficult period for Eddie Howe and his recruitment team.
Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season and missed out on European football. The club also lost several key players during the summer rebuild.
Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona, while Sandro Tonali completed a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, the future of Bruno Guimaraes remains uncertain amid interest from Arsenal. Newcastle responded by investing heavily in younger talent.
Bazoumana Toure, Sean Steur, Ewen Jaouen and Kyran Thompson have all arrived at St James’ Park. However, the club have now suffered another blow in the transfer market.
According to David Ornstein, Aston Villa are finalising a deal to sign Johan Manzambi from Freiburg despite Newcastle previously agreeing terms with the German club.
The report states that Newcastle had an agreement in place with Freiburg but failed to secure the player’s approval.
Instead, the 20-year-old Swiss midfielder made it clear that Aston Villa was his preferred destination.
Villa have now accelerated talks and are moving closer to completing the transfer.
The move represents another frustrating setback for Newcastle United after losing out on Victor Munoz earlier in the window.
For Howe, the challenge now is ensuring the club do not miss out on another major target before the new season begins.
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