FC Bayern continues to scout for promising players on the international transfer market. In doing so, the Munich club has apparently set its sights on a former Bundesliga pro who is currently making quite a splash in the Premier League. Johan Manzambi has quickly emerged as one of the most standout players at Aston Villa. His strong performances have not gone unnoticed by the German record champions.
Just last summer, the Swiss national team player moved from SC Freiburg to England. Aston Villa paid up to 70 million euros for the 21-year-old, including potential bonus payments.
That’s a massive sum for a young player who had no prior experience in the Premier League. But Manzambi already seems to be repaying his new club’s trust.
In his first six appearances, the attacking player has scored three goals and provided three assists. He was particularly instrumental in matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
Bayern and Barcelona are keeping an eye on Manzambi
As reported by the British website TEAMtalk, FC Bayern and FC Barcelona are now following the Swiss player’s development very closely.
Other top European clubs are also said to have their eyes on the 21-year-old.
Under Aston Villa coach Unai Emery, Manzambi has immediately carved out an important role in the offense. The Swiss player is primarily deployed as an attacking midfielder behind the striker.
His chemistry with Nicolas Jackson has been particularly strong so far. The former Bayern striker forms a dangerous attacking duo with Manzambi.
At the start of the season, however, the Swiss player initially had to contend with the aftereffects of a bruised knee he sustained around the time of the World Cup.
Now, there’s hardly any sign of it. Manzambi impresses with his dynamism, goal-scoring threat, and remarkable composure in front of the opponent’s goal.
Even the fans have already taken the new signing to their hearts. At Villa Park, his name is now being chanted to the tune of the Cranberries’ classic “Zombie.”
A massive transfer fee could deter Bayern
For Munich, Manzambi would generally be an interesting prospect due to his versatility and potential for growth.
However, a potential transfer is likely to be anything but easy. The Swiss player is under contract with Aston Villa through 2031. Furthermore, the English club invested a massive transfer fee for him just a few months ago.
Given his successful start, there is currently no need for the Premier League club to let the attacking player go. A potential sale would therefore likely only be considered if an exceptionally high offer were made. There is even talk of a transfer fee in the hundreds of millions.
It seems questionable whether Bayern would be willing to invest such a sum for the former Freiburg player.
The record champions seem to be keeping an eye on Manzambi for now as an interesting option for the future. However, should the 21-year-old continue his impressive development, interest from Munich and Barcelona is unlikely to wane.