Get ready for a reunion! Aston Villa is on the verge of bringing back a familiar face, and the potential deal is sending ripples through the football world. We're talking about Tammy Abraham, the prolific striker who once lit up Villa Park, and a sensational £18 million move from Besiktas is reportedly imminent.
Sources close to the club indicate that the 28-year-old is expected to finalize his return to Villa Park this weekend, having already traveled to the UK to complete formalities. This potential transfer is a huge statement of intent from Villa boss Unai Emery, who has been actively seeking to bolster his attacking options, particularly after Donyell Malen's departure to Roma last week. Emery clearly sees Abraham as the ideal player to support and potentially compete with Ollie Watkins up front, adding much-needed depth and firepower to the squad.
But here's where it gets controversial... Abraham's recent history is a bit of a rollercoaster. Besiktas initially secured the England international on loan from Roma last summer, with a clause obligating them to buy him outright if certain performance targets were met. Now, it's believed that Besiktas did trigger that option, acquiring him for around £12 million. This means Villa will effectively be paying Besiktas a significant premium to bring Abraham back to England. Is this a shrewd piece of business by Villa, or are they overpaying for a player who has struggled for consistency in recent years?
And this is the part most people miss... The deal isn't a straightforward cash transaction. Reports from Turkey suggest that young defender Yasin Ozcan, who spent the last season on loan at Anderlecht, could be heading to Besiktas as part of the agreement. This adds another layer of complexity to the transfer and raises questions about Villa's long-term plans for their defensive prospects. Is Ozcan deemed surplus to requirements, or are Villa simply using him as a bargaining chip to sweeten the deal for Abraham?
To further illustrate Villa's commitment, Roberto Olabe, Villa's president of football operations, personally scouted Abraham during Besiktas's recent 1-0 victory over Kayserispor on Monday. This demonstrates the level of due diligence Villa are undertaking to ensure Abraham is the right fit for the team.
Let's rewind a bit to understand Abraham's journey. He originally joined Roma from Chelsea in August 2021 for a hefty £34 million and quickly became a key player under then-manager Jose Mourinho. He made a remarkable 120 appearances for the Italian giants and played a pivotal role in their historic Conference League triumph in 2021-22, scoring an impressive nine goals in 13 appearances during that campaign. However, his fortunes waned after Mourinho's dismissal in January 2024, and he was subsequently loaned out to AC Milan the following season, highlighting the unpredictable nature of football.
Abraham also etched his name in Serie A history during his debut season, becoming the highest-scoring Englishman in a single campaign with 17 league goals. To put that into perspective, only David Platt (31 goals) and Gerry Hitchens (58 goals) have surpassed Abraham's total of 29 Serie A goals among English players.
Of course, Villa fans will fondly remember Abraham's previous loan spell at the club during the 2018-19 season. He was an absolute sensation, bagging 25 goals and playing a crucial role in Villa's promotion back to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. Can he recapture that magic and reignite his career at Villa Park? Will he be the missing piece in Emery's puzzle? This move certainly has the potential to be a game-changer for both Abraham and Aston Villa.
What do you think? Is Tammy Abraham the right signing for Aston Villa? Will he thrive under Unai Emery? Do you believe Villa are overpaying for his services, or is his past performance worth the investment? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
