Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea are chasing SC Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi. The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the brightest talents in Europe after impressive displays for his club.
He’s scored three goals and added two assists in 19 Bundesliga appearances for Freiburg this season, catching the eye of several top clubs across Europe. The Swiss international has impressed for his country as well, scoring three goals in eights appearances since receiving his first full call up in 2025.
TEAMtalk has reported that Manzambi is on the radar of not only the Premier Leaguer trio but also raining Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, and Galatasaray have all been credited with interest in Manzambi as well.
The player is lauded for his energetic box-to-box style of play and his technical ability. Manzabi’s contract at Freiburg expires in 2030, and the Bundesliga side would demand around £43m (€50m) for his services.
Both Arsenal and United have sent scouts to watch the player, with the former initiating exploratory talks.
Premier League trio chasing Manzambi
Chelsea are also keen on the player as they continue their strategy of investing in high-potential youth talent. All three clubs are known to be in the market for midfield reinforcements.
Arsenal are well stocked in that area of the pitch but have suffered injuries to Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz recently. Summer signing Martin Zubimendi has also been a surprise subject of speculation, with rumours of the player being unsettled in England.
United are plotting a midfield rebuild and could sign as many as three new midfielders. The futures of Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount remain in doubt, while Casemiro has already signaled his intention to leave when his contract expires in the summer.
Chelsea are looking for cover for first choice pairing Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Talisman Cole Palmer plays higher up the pitch, and Romeo Lavia has struggled with injuries. Andrey Santos remains the only consistent reserve player in that position.
Manzambi’s profile is seen as a perfect fit for the Premier League, and the player is expected to explore his options after the summer’s World Cup.
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