adminTwelve months is a long time in football. Not long ago, many pundits and analysts were describing Newcastle United as having one of the strongest midfield trios in the Premier League.
However, Eddie Howe’s side have been heavily reshaped over the past few transfer windows, with Sandro Tonali becoming the latest high-profile departure.
The Italian completed a £100 million move to Tottenham Hotspur last week, leaving another major gap in Newcastle’s midfield.
Bruno Guimarães has also expressed his desire to seek a new challenge after Arsenal submitted an offer for the Brazilian international.
As a result, Howe and the Newcastle hierarchy face the difficult task of rebuilding their midfield, with several players emerging as transfer targets.
Why Manzambi could solve Newcastle’s midfield issues
Newcastle have stepped up their pursuit of Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi in recent days.
Reports claim the Magpies have already submitted multiple offers to the Bundesliga club in an attempt to sign the Switzerland international following his return from the World Cup.
A fee of around £52 million has been mentioned for the 20-year-old, but how would he fit into Howe’s midfield?
Manzambi is an energetic box-to-box midfielder who excels at making late runs into the penalty area, as shown by the three goals he scored during the World Cup.
He also created an impressive 1.4 big chances per 90 minutes during the tournament, ranking among the top 2% of all participating players.
Defensively, the Swiss midfielder also impressed, averaging 2.3 ball recoveries and 1.4 clearances per 90 minutes while helping Switzerland reach the quarter-finals.
Although the transfer has yet to be officially completed, only the final details reportedly remain before Manzambi is announced as a Newcastle player.
Newcastle’s perfect Manzambi alternative
Even with Manzambi expected to arrive, Newcastle’s transfer business appears far from over.
The club is keen to add more quality and depth to avoid another disappointing campaign after finishing 12th in the Premier League last season.
Tonali’s departure has further increased the need for midfield reinforcements, and Atalanta midfielder Ederson has now emerged as another target.
According to Sport Mediaset, Newcastle are preparing an offer for the Brazilian after his proposed move to Manchester United collapsed late in negotiations.
The report states that the Magpies are ready to make their move for the 27-year-old, who is valued at around £40 million by Atalanta.
Although his switch to Manchester United appeared close, a move to Newcastle could still materialise and would represent an excellent signing for Howe.
Why Ederson could be an even better signing
When comparing last season’s statistics, Ederson outperformed Manzambi in several key areas.
The Brazilian, who has been described as a “monster” by former Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo, completed 90% of his passes while creating 1.1 chances per 90 minutes during the 2025/26 Serie A season.
Both figures surpassed Manzambi’s numbers, highlighting Ederson’s greater influence in possession.
Ederson – Serie A 2025/26 (per 90)
Games: 30
Goals & assists: 3
Pass accuracy: 90%
Chances created: 1.1
Tackles: 2.4
Ball recoveries: 5.4
Dribble success: 55%
Fouls won: 1.6
Ederson also recorded a higher dribble success rate than Manzambi, underlining his effectiveness when carrying the ball.
His defensive contribution was equally impressive, averaging 2.4 tackles and 5.4 ball recoveries per 90 minutes—both higher than the Swiss youngster’s figures.
Those defensive numbers placed him among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe, demonstrating his ability to regain possession consistently.
While Manzambi, at just 20 years old, has significant potential and could develop into a top-class midfielder under Howe, Ederson is currently the more complete and experienced option.
If Newcastle can secure the Brazilian for around £40 million, he could prove to be one of the bargains of the summer transfer window.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
