12 months truly isn’t a long time in football, as many pundits and analysts were claiming that Newcastle United had one of the very best midfield trios in the Premier League.

However, Eddie Howe’s side have been ransacked in the last few transfer windows, with Sandro Tonali the latest Magpies midfielder to move on to pastures new.

The Italian completed a £100m move to join fellow English club Tottenham Hotspur last week - creating yet another huge hole within the club’s senior squad.

Bruno Guimarães has since come out and stated his desire to depart St James’ Park for a new challenge after Arsenal presented their own offer to land the Brazilian international.

Howe and the hierarchy now have the huge task of trying to plan for life without the aforementioned duo, resulting in one player becoming a key transfer target in recent weeks.

Why Manzambi could solve Newcastle’s midfield issues in 2026/27

In an attempt to overhaul the club’s midfield department, Newcastle have made strides to complete a move for Freiburg star Johan Manzambi in recent days.

It’s been reported that the Magpies have even made multiple offers to the Bundesliga outfit to secure a move for the Switzerland international upon his return from the World Cup.

A fee in the region of £52m has been mooted for the 20-year-old, but how would he fit into Howe’s current midfield trio at St James’ Park?

Manzambi is a superb box-to-box option who loves to arrive late into the opposition box and find the back of the net - as seen by his tally of three goals at the World Cup.

He also created a staggering 1.4 big chances per 90 during this summer’s competition - ranking him in the top 2% of all players who have featured for their respective nations.

Without the ball, the Swiss star has been just as impressive, subsequently making 2.3 ball recoveries and 1.4 clearances per 90 - helping his nation reach the quarter-finals.

Whilst a deal is yet to be announced, the final details just need to be progressed in the coming days before Manzambi can be announced as a Newcastle player.

Newcastle's perfect Manzambi alternative in the transfer market

Despite the pending arrival of Manzambi on Tyneside, the frantic period of transfer activity shows no sign of slowing down in the months ahead.

Added depth and quality are undoubtedly needed within the Magpies' ranks to help avoid a repeat of last season’s measly 12th-place finish in the Premier League.

Tonali’s departure will only heighten the need for added talent at the heart of the side, with a move for Atalanta star Ederson also another possibility this summer.

It’s been reported by Sport MediaSet in recent days that Howe’s side are now preparing an offer for the Brazilian after his move to Manchester United collapsed at the 11th hour.

They claim the Magpies are set to come forward and make a charge for the 27-year-old star, who’s currently valued at around the £40m mark by the Serie A outfit.

A move for Ederson would be a surprise to see, given how close he was to joining Michael Carrick’s men, but it could prove to be a phenomenal deal for Howe’s men.

When comparing his stats to those of Manzambi from last season, the Brazilian managed to better the Freiburg star in numerous key areas for a midfielder.

Ederson, who’s been labelled a “monster” by former Brazilian star Felipe Melo, completed 90% of the passes he attempted last term, whilst also registering 1.1 chances created per 90.

Both of the aforementioned figures are higher than those produced by the 20-year-old, subsequently highlighting his ability to have a bigger impact with the ball at his feet.

The Atalanta star also managed to achieve a higher dribble success rate than Manzambi, reaffirming his dominance in possession - something which could be vital for Howe’s possession-based system.

Ederson’s dominance was also evident without the ball, as he registered 2.4 tackles and 5.4 ball recoveries in Serie A throughout 2025/26 - tallies both higher than the Swiss star's.

In fact, both of the figures placed him in the top 15% of all midfielders across Europe - subsequently showcasing his remarkable ability in regaining possession for his side.

At just 20, Manzambi has bags of time to develop into a top-level talent for Howe and Newcastle - but there’s no denying Ederson is a more readymade star at present.

The Brazilian’s all-round dominance is there for all to see and could offer a bargain transfer for the Magpies if they can agree a £40m transfer with Atalanta in the months ahead.