Aston Villa poses serious challenge for West Ham as Emery targets ‘unstoppable’ £40m striker
Aston Villa and West Ham United are poised for several off-pitch battles in the summer transfer window.
West Ham’s manager, Julen Lopetegui, appears to have an advantage over Aston Villa’s Unai Emery in the pursuit of Youssef En-Nesyri. However, Aston Villa seems prepared to thwart West Ham’s attempt to acquire Torino’s Raoul Bellanova. Now, another player has caught the attention of both clubs.
Lopetegui and Emery are both seeking a top-class centre-forward this summer. However, West Ham’s need for a proven goalscorer is more pressing than Villa’s. It’s clear that Michail Antonio cannot be relied upon as West Ham’s primary striker for the upcoming season.
West Ham has a potential lead striker in mind, but Aston Villa has now joined the chase. The two Premier League clubs may find themselves in a tug-of-war over Tammy Abraham during the summer transfer window.
According to Il Romanista, Aston Villa has recently entered the race to sign the former Chelsea striker, whom Lopetegui is keen to bring to the London Stadium. Described as ‘unstoppable’ by Football Italia, Abraham is a formidable opponent with his aerial prowess, speed, and scoring ability.
However, his injury history is a significant concern, posing a potential red flag for interested buyers. Since rupturing his ACL in 2023 while playing for Roma, Abraham has missed 301 days of football (Transfermarkt). Many players do not return to their former selves after ACL injuries, risking a loss of pace and explosiveness.
Despite these concerns, Abraham appeared in good physical condition at the end of the season with Roma, suggesting he might still have the capacity to perform at a high level. It remains to be seen whether West Ham or Aston Villa will be willing to risk £40 million on Tammy Abraham this summer.
If Abraham’s fitness could be assured for the next three or four years, the £40 million price tag could be considered reasonable. However, such guarantees are impossible. West Ham or Aston Villa will have to take a gamble if they intend to sign Abraham this summer.
