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Reporter reacts as Aston Villa eye Tammy Abraham move
Journalist Ryan Taylor has been reacting to Aston Villa’s reported interest in AS Roma forward Tammy Abraham.
The Lowdown: Abraham rumours
Villa are seemingly planning for the summer ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season in charge, where a new forward appears to be high up on their transfer wishlist.
Abraham, hailed as ‘magnificent’ by journalist Henry Winter last year, has been linked with a return to the Midlands, with reports suggesting that Villa and Premier League rivals Everton are ‘in the front row’ for the forward, with Roma’s asking price €75m (£66.4m).
Alternative reports have suggested that an offer over €40m (£35.3m) could now be enough to secure Abraham’s services, which would still be a club record at Villa Park either way.
The 25-year-old has contributed to ten goals in 27 Serie A appearances this season, with his last goal coming at the beginning of February.
The Latest: Taylor’s comments
Taylor, reporter for The Daily Express, was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Villa’s potential move for Abraham. He said that the forward is ‘the kind of name Villa are looking for’ and questioned whether or not that could push top scoter Ollie Watkins out wide.
“Would that push Watkins out wide? I’m not sure Watkins is a winger and based on the past few games, he’s proven he can come up trumps and score goals.
“It will be interesting to see what Villa do, but that is the kind of name [Abraham] Villa are looking for, and obviously, he’s played for the club before.”
The Verdict: Two up front?
Bringing in a new forward appears to be a wise move despite Watkins’ fine form in front of goal in recent months, with teenager Jhon Duran the only other centre-forward available to Emery at this moment in time.
Ashley Preece suggested that ‘a new No.9 to partner Watkins is at the top of Villa’s shopping list this summer’, so Emery could look to use a front two next season. The Spaniard has played with two in attack on a number of occasions since domestic action returned after the World Cup, although he has returned to a 4-2-3-1 system in recent weeks for games against Crystal Palace, West Ham and Bournemouth.
As Taylor says, it’ll be ‘interesting to see what Villa do’, but moving Watkins wide might not be the best idea following his purple scoring patch as a centre-forward in 2023, where he has scored six in his last eight.
