Aston Villa's pursuit of striker Tammy Abraham has hit a significant complication, with a Premier League rival now attempting to hijack the deal.
Forest Enter the Fray for Former Chelsea Striker
Reports emerging from Turkey claim that Nottingham Forest have "entered the picture" in the race to sign the England international. Villa had identified Abraham as a key target during the January transfer window, but they now face direct competition from another top-flight English club.
The 28-year-old forward is currently on loan at Besiktas from Italian side Roma. A crucial detail in that arrangement is a clause that has been triggered, allowing the Turkish Super Lig club to make the move permanent for a fee of 13 million euros.
Besiktas President Clarifies Stance on Departure
This development means any club wishing to sign Abraham this month must now negotiate directly with Besiktas. The club's president, Serdal Adalı, addressed the situation publicly at the end of last week.
"There is an offer for Abraham. We do not favour Abraham’s departure," Adalı stated. He confirmed interest from England, adding, "Another team from England is interested. We don’t think of sending him somewhere. We will see what will come our way."
He also revealed that Villa's offer did not include a player, but that Besiktas' technical staff had requested specific individuals from the Midlands club, a request which has been communicated.
Player-Swap Proposals and Ongoing Talks
According to further reports from Turkish outlet Fanatik, Besiktas are continuing talks with both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest. Forest's approach is said to have involved offering players as part of the deal.
It is claimed they proposed strikers Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi. However, Besiktas reportedly rejected the inclusion of Wood, while Awoniyi is said to prefer a potential switch to Germany if he leaves the City Ground.
This creates a complex three-way negotiation as the January window progresses, with Abraham's future now the subject of a genuine transfer tussle between two Premier League sides.
