Expert insight from Italy & Turkey 

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There are so many cogs to the mechanism that is Aston Villa’s winter transfer window plans that it’s genuinely hard to tell whether they will finish the January window in a better position than they started it. Forward Donyell Malen has sealed a move to Serie A’s Roma. Whilst the Dutchman hasn’t exactly lit up Villa Park, Unai Emery’s side are seriously lacking depth in forward areas. However, the latest reports suggest that Villa are closing in on the signing of English striker Tammy Abraham after beating rival clubs with the offer of a long-term contract. It is understood Villa are prepared to give Abraham a 4½-year deal to entice him to return to the club where he had a stellar season on loan in the 2018/19 season

Abraham, 28, was being pursued by other Premier League sides, including Everton, but has indicated Villa is his preference. Nevertheless, the striker’s situation is not a simple one and Villa must navigate delicate negotiations with Besiktas, where Abraham is on loan from Roma, but who have triggered an obligation to buy him. Besiktas president Serdal Adalı said this week: “There is an official offer for Abraham. Another team from England is also interested. But we have no intention of leaving at the moment. We will see what the coming days bring.” Abraham last played in the Premier League in 2021, spending four years in Italy and six months in Turkey. Using Transfermarkt’s global expertise, we bring you more on his time away.

How did Tammy Abraham perform in Italy?

Stefano Buonfino is Transfermarkt’s Content Manager in Italy and tells us more about the Englishman’s time in Serie A: “Abraham did not leave a great impression in Italy. He started very well at Roma, with his first year representing his finest period. Many admired him and he was considered a top player, almost on a par with Victor Osimhen for many, or at least the two were often compared in the TM Italian forum. In the following years, however, the Nigerian’s performances exploded, while the Englishman showed signs of declining, perhaps because his strengths were no longer a mystery, and he suffered a serious injury.

“Upon his return, he faced competition and was no longer able to hold down a starting spot. Then he was loaned to AC Milan to relaunch his career but was never more than a back up. In the end, he was sold to Turkey for much less than he had been bought for I’ll be honest, whether or not he can be successful again in England is a bit of a mystery to me. He seems to have done very well in Turkey, but if I had to base my opinion on his last few years in Italy, I think he might struggle quite a bit.”

How is Tammy Abraham performing in Turkey & could he leave this month?

As touched upon, Abraham signed for Turkish giants Besiktas in the summer on an initial loan with an obligation to buy for €13m. He has scored 13 goals in 25 games for the club. Cemal Utku Ağkaya is Transfermarkt’s Content Manager in Turkey and explains more about the striker’s time in the Süper Lig: “With his mobility and passing quality – both of which are well above Süper Lig standards – Abraham has successfully filled the void left by Ciro Immobile, who struggled last season due to age and recurring injuries. This season, Abraham has been instrumental in creating space for the attacking midfielders and orchestrating goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates.

“In my opinion, he has emerged as one of the standout performers for a Beşiktaş side that has faced immense instability, having gone through four managers and two presidents in the past 18 months. Historically, Abraham played a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s promotions to the Premier League. Currently, the Villa squad lacks a physical, tall striker. Throughout his career, Emery has always preferred having a high-pressing target man as a tactical option on the bench. For these reasons, I expect Aston Villa to make a move to secure his signature during the winter transfer window.”