Aston Villa are making an approach for a new midfielder after signing Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi from Newcastle United.
Newcastle wanted to sign Manzambi, but Villa made a last-minute move to secure Manzambi’s contract, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that a verbal agreement had been reached.
Personal terms have also been agreed, with the Freiburg star apparently giving his approval to a move for Emiliano Martinez after Switzerland were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup by Argentina.
However, Villa have no intention of stopping there, with the Premier League star midfielder recently emerging as a target.
Aston Villa planning to sign Manchester United midfielder
Aston Villa are currently in contact with Manchester United regarding a deal for Mason Mount, but it may be difficult to get the deal over the line, according to a report from TEAMtalk.
Michael Carrick remains a huge fan of the £150,000-a-week Englishman and the Red Devils have little interest in allowing a sale.
Football Fancast Verdict | |
|---|---|
reliability | Villa are keen to strengthen their options in the center of the park this summer and Manzambi’s late hijacking is nearing completion. However, with news of Man United closing in on Youri Tielemans, the need to sign a new midfielder has become even stronger, so signing Mount could be ideal. |
finances | However, signing the Englishman could be a big deal considering he joined from Chelsea for £60m in 2023. Wages could also be an issue, as none of Villa’s current players earn more than £150,000 a week. |
insight | Hailed as “incredible” by Umir Irfan of BBC Sport, the 27-year-old has collected 36 caps for England and established himself at international level, contributing 56 goals in 183 Premier League games. |
impact | Ross Barkley has yet to extend his stay at Villa Park until the end of next season, so signing an attacking midfielder this summer could be important for Unai Emery, and Mount has the necessary experience to be a solid replacement. |
Comparison of Mason Mount and Ross Barkley
The 27-year-old Man United midfielder is more than five years younger than Barkley and there are signs he could be more solid than the Villa star from a defensive perspective.
Last season, Mount averaged 5.3 recoveries and 2.1 tackles per 90 in the Premier League, compared to his compatriots’ averages of 4.8 and 1.5.
However, Barkley performed better in attack, averaging 0.32 goals per 90 goals, slightly above the United star’s 0.27 goals average.
In reality, the two midfielders are relatively even. However, there may be doubts about Mount’s fitness, given that he has made just 54 Premier League appearances since signing for Man United due to a series of injuries.
