Former Aston Villa scout Mick Brown has publicly urged manager Unai Emery to orchestrate a sensational return for striker Tammy Abraham to Villa Park this month.
Villa Legend Advocates for Familiar Face
The recommendation comes as Donyell Malen nears a transfer to AS Roma, with Brown suggesting Villa should look to the same Italian club for a replacement. The target is Abraham, who is currently on a season-long loan at Turkish side Besiktas from Roma but has a long history with the Midlands club.
Brown, a senior scout at Villa during their 2018/19 promotion campaign, was instrumental in bringing Abraham to the club on loan from Chelsea. He scored 26 goals in 40 appearances that season, with 25 coming in the Championship – a feat not achieved at the club since Andy Gray in 1977. The then-21-year-old also netted in the play-off semi-final and started the Wembley final victory over Derby County.
A Complicated but Compelling Transfer Saga
Interest from Villa in re-signing Abraham is not new. The club has been consistently linked with a move for the 11-cap England international ever since his initial loan ended. After promotion, then-manager Dean Smith wanted him permanently, but Chelsea boss Frank Lampard opted to keep him at Stamford Bridge.
Abraham subsequently flourished, scoring 15 Premier League goals in the 2019/20 season and earning an England call-up. A £34 million move to Roma followed in 2021, where he enjoyed immediate success, scoring 27 goals in all competitions and winning the Europa Conference League under Jose Mourinho. He also reached the Europa League final a year later.
Recent seasons have been hampered by injuries and an underwhelming loan at AC Milan. However, he has rediscovered form at Besiktas, scoring 12 goals in 24 matches. The Turkish club holds an £11 million option to buy him this summer, and would demand compensation if Roma were to cut the loan short, making any January move for Villa a complex negotiation.
Why Abraham Fits the Emery Model
Despite the complications, Brown is adamant the move makes perfect sense for all parties. He highlights the need for cover and competition for Ollie Watkins and believes Abraham's attributes align perfectly with Emery's demands.
"He's a bit like Watkins in that technically, he's not the best, but you know he's not going to stop and give up, he'll keep getting into these positions until it comes off," Brown told Football Insider. "That type of striker suits Villa and suits Emery... I think it will suit the player as well coming back to familiar surroundings."
Brown concluded by emphasising the intangible benefits of a return, stating that stepping back into the Premier League at a club where he is already known and loved by fans could provide a significant boost to the player's career.
