Newcastle had been considered the frontrunner to secure the 20-year-old's signature in a deal believed to be worth around £50 million. However, interest from several clubs has caused the Magpies to proceed cautiously, creating an opportunity for Villa to make their move.
If the transfer is completed at that price, it would become the most expensive signing in Aston Villa's history, surpassing the £50 million they paid Everton for Amadou Onana in 2024.
Villa's interest comes at a crucial time as the club prepares for significant changes in midfield. Youri Tielemans is edging closer to a move to Manchester United, while Onana is expected to spend several months on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Belgium's World Cup last-16 victory over the United States. The setback is likely to keep him out until 2027.
Manzambi is understood to be attracted by the prospect of joining Villa, particularly because the club will compete in the UEFA Champions League next season. The opportunity to play in Europe's premier club competition is believed to be a major factor in his decision.
The midfielder is already familiar with Unai Emery's side after facing them in the Europa League final in May, where Villa claimed a convincing 3-0 victory in Istanbul.
Despite that defeat, Manzambi enhanced his reputation during the World Cup, emerging as one of the tournament's brightest young talents. He became the youngest player since 1966 to register five goal contributions in a single World Cup, attracting widespread attention from top European clubs.
Villa continue to balance their transfer ambitions with financial considerations as they work within UEFA's financial regulations. To help create room in the budget, left-back Lucas Digne is close to completing a return to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Midlands club are also expected to sell forward Lewis Dobbin to Southampton for a fee of around £9 million. Dobbin joined Villa from Everton in 2024 but never made a senior appearance for the club. He instead spent time on loan at Preston North End and also had temporary spells with West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City.
For Newcastle, missing out on Manzambi would represent another frustrating setback in the transfer market. The club has already seen several top targets choose other destinations in recent months despite identifying a number of highly rated players.
Although there is still plenty of time left in the transfer window to pursue alternative options, another disappointment would increase the pressure on Newcastle's recruitment team as they look to strengthen the squad before the new Premier League season begins.
