"HERE WE GO!" FABRIZIO ROMANO CONFIRMS TAMMY ABRAHAM IS HEADING TO VILLA
Aston Villa have reached a verbal agreement to sign Tammy Abraham for €21m plus Yasin Özcan. Discover the latest on his 2026 return.
Aston Villa are on the verge of sealing another January signing after reaching a verbal agreement, with the club looking to make it official in the next 24 hours.
Unai Emery has had to work around strict PSR rules while building a squad that can go toe-to-toe with the top six, but this month, NSWE looks set to really back him.
Villa are among the frontrunners for next season’s Champions League and, who knows, maybe even the Premier League title itself. Emery wants to strengthen the squad for what could turn out to be a historic finish to the 2025/26 season.
They’ve got problems, though. Donyell Malen’s move to Roma has left them short up front, and Boubacar Kamara’s season-ending injury forced them to hunt for a midfielder.
Lately, Villa have been linked with a bunch of midfielders—Ruben Loftus-Cheek from AC Milan, Raphael Onyedika from Club Brugge, and even a reunion with Douglas Luiz, just in the last week.
But Emery’s search for a striker to support Ollie Watkins is almost done.
Despite all the talk about Jean-Philippe Mateta at Crystal Palace, Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, and PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos, it sounds like Villa have zeroed in on their top target: Tammy Abraham.
Besiktas signed Abraham on loan last summer with an obligation to buy, which they’ve just triggered.
After what sounds like some pretty complicated negotiations with the Turkish club, Villa seems to have found a way to bring their ex-striker home for an emotional reunion.
Fabrizio Romano says defender Yasin Özcan will be part of an £18 million part-exchange deal, plus add-ons. So after plenty of back-and-forth, Villa are finally about to get their man.
According to Ben Jacobs from talkSPORT and GiveMeSport, the deal still needs a few details ironed out, but both clubs have shaken hands on a verbal agreement.
Abraham has already agreed to personal terms, so his return to Villa Park should become official within a day.
He’ll join Brazilian youngster Alysson and teenage striker Brian Madjo as Villa’s new arrivals this window, but unlike those two, Abraham brings proven experience.
Journalist Henry Winter summed it up earlier this week—signing Abraham for around £18 million would be a “bargain.” The guy has scored against some of the best keepers in the world, going all the way back to his Chelsea days.
“Tammy Abraham has scored against Alisson, Neuer, Sommer, Pope, De Gea, Maignan, Leno, Ramsdale, Szczesny, Vicario, Onana, Rui Patricio, Kasper Schmeichel, and Dean Henderson, amongst many others, over the past decade and all over,” Winter said on X.
“Excellent striker. It'll be good to see Abraham back in the Premier League. €20m is a bargain for a proven goalscorer who’s 28 and has a point to prove in World Cup year.”
Abraham already knows the Premier League, and he knows Villa. That could be a big boost for Emery, even if it means Ollie Watkins might have to start looking over his shoulder.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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