Forest Throw Hat in Ring for Abraham as Villa Remain Favourites

The race for Tammy Abraham's signature has intensified this week, with Nottingham Forest now muscling in on what appeared to be Aston Villa's exclusive pursuit of the 28-year-old striker.

Abraham's five-year spell abroad has seen him establish himself as a prolific operator in Europe's top leagues. After his 2021/22 campaign at AS Roma—where he netted 27 goals across all competitions—injuries and inconsistency have punctuated his journey. A serious ACL setback led to loan moves at AC Milan and Besiktas, the latter a permanent switch last summer that has yielded 13 goals in 25 outings.

Villa appeared to have positioned themselves as the front-runners for his return to English football, particularly following the departure of Donyell Malen to Roma. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the Italian club's interest, noting that personal terms would present no stumbling block. However, Forest have now declared their hand, with Turkish reporter Ertan Süzgün revealing that Sean Dyche's outfit are prepared to match Abraham's financial demands.

The catch, though? Abraham's heart seems already set on Villa. According to Süzgün, a reunion with his former club—where he previously enjoyed a loan spell—remains his preferred destination.

Unai Emery addressed the transfer speculation on Friday, though he kept his cards close to his chest. When questioned about Villa's business this window, the manager deflected towards Sunday's fixture against Everton, insisting that recruitment, while important, takes secondary priority to the squad already in place.

On Malen's exit, Emery struck a philosophical note. He acknowledged the decision's difficulty but justified it across three fronts: the player's desire for regular first-team football, his own preference to retain him, and the club's assessment that the deal made financial sense. "It's a good deal for the club and it's a good deal for him," Emery concluded.