Aston Villa Deal for Swiss Midfielder, Eyes Mexican Star

Aston Villa is actively pursuing reinforcements for its Champions League squad, with a club-record deal for a Swiss midfielder nearing completion and a separate, intensified pursuit of a Mexican World Cup star now underway. The Premier League club is close to signing 20-year-old Swiss international Johan Manzambi from Freiburg in a transfer reportedly worth nearly 60 million pounds, a move accelerated by a serious injury to midfielder Amadou Onana. Concurrently, Villa's management has intensified contact regarding a potential move for Mexico forward Julian Quinones following his standout performances at the World Cup.

The deal for Manzambi, which would surpass the 50 million pounds Villa paid for Onana two years ago, progressed after the club reportedly hijacked the midfielder's proposed move to Newcastle United. The need for midfield reinforcements became more urgent after Onana, 24, sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Belgium at the World Cup and is expected to miss most of the upcoming season. Manzambi, who scored seven goals in 47 appearances for Freiburg last season and faced Villa in the Europa League final in May, impressed for Switzerland...