Aston Villa have reportedly enquired about Fenerbahçe striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the last 24 hours as Unai Emery frantically searches for attacking reinforcements.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Moroccan international will “decide his future soon” with several top European clubs circling.
Napoli and Juventus have also registered interest, but Villa’s late entry into the race signals a potential pivot in their transfer strategy.
The call comes as the Midlands club look to bolster their attack before the end of the transfer window.
With En-Nesyri boasting a physical profile similar to what Emery demands, he has quickly emerged as a serious alternative to Villa’s primary targets.
??? Youssef En-Nesyri will decide his future soon with several clubs keen. After Napoli and Juventus, Aston Villa also called in the last 24h.
Villa have been working on Tammy Abraham deal for days, agreed on player side but still not with Besiktas.
Italian clubs remain keen. pic.twitter.com/LzzGP1Oz8Z
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 21, 2026
Villa have struggled to come to agreement with Besiktas for Tammy Abraham
The move for En-Nesyri appears to be a reaction to the stalling negotiations for Tammy Abraham.
Villa have been working on a deal for the ex-Chelsea forward, currently on loan at Besiktas from Roma, for several days.
While Romano confirmed that an agreement on personal terms has been reached with Abraham, striking a deal with the Turkish giants is proving difficult.
Villa officials even flew to Istanbul to negotiate, but a deal has not been agreed.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has also been linked with Aston Villa
Villa are keeping their options wide open, with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta also on their shortlist.
The French striker has reportedly handed in a transfer request at Selhurst Park, alerting both Villa and Juventus.
Crystal Palace are reportedly considering a move for Evann Guessand which makes a potential swap deal possible.
Who would be a better signing? Tammy Abraham vs Mateta vs Nesyri
The choice facing Unai Emery is difficult. Tammy Abraham offers the most romantic option; he knows the club, loves the fans, and has a proven track record in the Premier League.
However, his complex transfer situation risks dragging on until deadline day.
| Player | Apps | Goals | Assists | Total G/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tammy Abraham | 26 | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta | 33 | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Youssef En-Nesyri | 25 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguably the most “in-form” Premier League option, offering immense physicality and hold-up play that would complement Villa’s wingers.
Youssef En-Nesyri, meanwhile, is a wildcard. An aerial specialist with elite jumping reach, he offers a different tactical dimension but lacks the English top-flight experience of the other two.
Tammy Abraham leads the trio for goal involvements in the 2025/26 season, producing the highest return despite playing fewer matches than Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The post “In the last 24h” – Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Aston Villa transfer update appeared first on CaughtOffside.