Report: Aston Villa still pushing to re-sign former forward

Aston Villa intensify striker search after Malen departure

Aston Villa’s January logic is beginning to crystallise. With Donyell Malen now at Roma, the club’s priorities have sharpened, and as reported by Sky Sports, attention has turned firmly towards reinforcing the forward line. Villa are stepping up efforts to sign Tammy Abraham, a move that feels rooted as much in familiarity as in opportunity.

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Villa officials and the player’s representatives were present in Istanbul on Monday night to watch Abraham in action for Besiktas, where he is currently on loan from Roma. The timing was notable, with Aston Villa due to face Fenerbahce in the same city later in the week, a reminder of how scouting and scheduling often overlap neatly in modern football.

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Proven output and market complications

Abraham’s numbers strengthen the case. Thirteen goals in 26 matches across all competitions underline a striker who has rediscovered rhythm in Turkey. Yet any deal is far from straightforward. Besiktas have an obligation to buy clause triggered by appearances and need a replacement before sanctioning his exit. Other clubs, both in the Premier League and across Europe, are circling.

Villa’s interest is not exclusive. Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace remains another option, suggesting a shortlist built around physical presence and penalty box reliability rather than experimentation.

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Familiar history offers reassurance

Abraham’s past at Villa looms large. During the 2018-19 season, on loan from Chelsea, he scored 26 goals in 40 appearances, driving promotion via the Championship play offs. Since then, his career has taken in Rome, a loan at AC Milan, and now Istanbul, producing 37 goals in 120 games for Roma.

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Meanwhile, Leon Bailey’s return to Villa after his Roma loan was cut short adds depth out wide, but the emphasis remains clear. Villa want a striker who can contribute immediately, without acclimatisation or theory.

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Losing Malen leaves a clear gap, not only in numbers but in identity. Villa fans crave a forward who understands the club, the expectations, and the relentlessness of English football. Abraham ticks those boxes instinctively.

There is comfort in the familiar. Supporters remember the promotion season vividly, and that history carries emotional weight. Yet there is also caution. Villa are no longer chasing survival or mid table respectability. They are building towards consistency in Europe, and every signing must elevate the collective level.

The complication with Besiktas and competing interest will worry fans, particularly those scarred by drawn out January sagas. Still, Abraham’s recent scoring record offers reassurance that this is not a nostalgic gamble but a calculated move.

If Villa act decisively, supporters will see ambition matched with clarity. Delay, however, risks turning a sensible plan into another window defined by what might have been.