Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is being urged to make a nostalgic transfer 'exception' for the potential signing of striker Tammy Abraham, as the club explores a sensational return for the former fan favourite.
Villa's Striking Search Leads to Familiar Face
According to reports from The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, Villa have placed Abraham on their radar for the January transfer window. The primary aim is to secure support and competition for first-choice England forward Ollie Watkins, ensuring the squad's title challenge isn't hampered by fatigue.
Abraham enjoyed a prolific loan spell at Villa Park during the 2018/19 season, scoring 26 goals to fire the club back into the Premier League. A permanent move was mooted in the summer of 2023 following his time at AS Roma, but a serious ACL injury suffered in his final game in Italy scuppered any deal.
Complex Negotiations and Fan Sentiment
The potential transfer is complicated by Abraham's current situation. He is presently on loan at Turkish Süper Lig side Besiktas, who hold a buy option for the player. Any deal would require Villa to first unpick that existing arrangement.
Intriguingly, the 28-year-old striker is not currently with the Besiktas squad at their training camp. The club released a statement confirming he had returned to Istanbul 'due to his wife's illness'.
The prospect of a return has ignited passionate debate among the Villa faithful. Many fans commenting on Birmingham Live are vocally in favour, despite the old football adage warning against revisiting the past.
Reader Sugarsden argued: 'I’d definitely get Abraham back, class player and he knows a few of the squad.' Meanwhile, OREILLY1970 stated: 'Please get Tammy back. I know they say 'never go back', but for this one I will make an exception. Perfect back-up for Ollie.'
Supporters have pointed to his existing relationships with players like Tyrone Mings and John McGinn, and his impressive recent form of 7 goals and 1 assist this season—a tally matching Watkins's own output.
A Calculated Gamble for Emery's Project?
Not every fan is convinced, however. Metalmicky cautioned against nostalgia, writing: 'Let’s not dwell, hopefully there are the new Jacks & Tammys of the future out there.'
For manager Unai Emery, the decision will be a strategic one. At 28, Abraham represents a potentially low-risk option who already understands the club. A loan deal with an option to buy has been suggested by some supporters as the most sensible approach.
The move would address a clear need for attacking depth as Villa compete on multiple fronts. Whether Emery decides to break the 'never go back' rule and bring a hero of the promotion campaign back to B6 remains to be seen, but the rumours are certainly stirring excitement at Villa Park.
