New reports coming out of the Turkish press suggest Aston Villa have officially contacted Beşiktaş. They have proposed a creative deal to bring back Tammy Abraham. According to Türkiye Gazetesi, the Premier League club has made an offer this week.
The plan involves sending winger Evann Guessand to Istanbul. The report indicates that Villa are eager to strengthen their attacking options. They see their former loan star as the right man to help Ollie Watkins up front.
Abraham is currently playing for Beşiktaş on loan from AS Roma. He is now caught in the middle of a complicated transfer situation. The Turkish giants reportedly have an obligation to buy the 28-year-old for €13m, provided he hits certain performance targets.
However, journalist Fırat Günayer says that Beşiktaş are open to activating this clause early. They would buy Abraham’s full rights now, just to sell him to Villa for around €20m. To make the deal more attractive, Villa have reportedly offered Evann Guessand on an 18-month loan.
The Ivorian winger only joined the Birmingham club last August for about £30m. Since then, he has found it hard to stay in Unai Emery’s starting lineup. By including Guessand, Villa hope to spend less cash.
They also want to move on a player who isn’t getting much game time. Günayer notes that the offer is on the table, but Beşiktaş haven’t said yes yet. Still, the chance to make a quick profit and get a replacement winger might be too good to turn down.
A Logical Gamble or Risky Business?
Finding a backup striker has been a problem for Aston Villa for years. Even so, this move for Abraham makes a lot of sense. Ollie Watkins is still the main man, but he has a lot of pressure on his shoulders.
Abraham has already proven he can play in the Premier League. Just as importantly, he already has a great connection with the Villa Park fans from his successful time in the Championship. He is a different type of player than Watkins. This will give Emery a real Plan B against defensive teams that need to be beaten in the air.
Financially, using Guessand as part of the deal looks like a smart move. The £30m summer signing hasn’t really performed yet. An 18-month loan could help him find his form again and fix the current squad balance. The board would likely see it as a great piece of business if Villa can trade an extra winger for a proven scorer without spending too much.
However, there are still worries about Abraham’s recent injuries. There are also questions about whether he can handle the speed of English football again after playing in Italy and Turkey. His goal record in the Süper Lig is decent, but the Premier League is much tougher.
Beşiktaş asking for €20m is a big price jump. Villa must decide if they are just being nostalgic or if Abraham is still the clinical finisher they remember. If the wages work out, this deal fixes two problems at once. It adds depth to the attack and trims the surplus from the squad.
