'Agreed to move' - Clubs in talks to complete deal for Everton, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa target
Everton look set to miss out on one of their transfer targets as a striker eyed by the Toffees agrees to join a Premier League rival
Everton target Tammy Abraham has reportedly agreed a move to Aston Villa with all clubs involved in the deal in discussions to get it completed.
It had been reported this week that Villa were favourites to get a deal done for the ex-Chelsea striker, with Football Insider naming Everton and Nottingham Forest as interested parties.
However, Abraham looks poised for a return to Villa Park after spending the 2018-19 campaign on loan with the club.
The complication around the deal involves his parent club AS Roma, who sent him to Bestikas on loan in the summer. That loan will now need to be cancelled which will allow Villa to complete their deal for the Everton target.
Writing on X, talkSPORT and Give Me Sport journalist Ben Jacobs said: “Tammy Abraham has agreed to a move to Aston Villa. Roma prepared to sanction his exit. Parties now working on terminating Abraham’s Bestikas loan, which was always the most complicated part of negotiations. Optimism a deal can be done.”
Abraham spent last campaign on loan with AC Milan and is free to leave Roma as he targets a return to the Premier League.
Everton have been keen to add a new striker to their ranks this month. They have been frustrated in their attempts to sign West Ham United man Callum Wilson. The ex-Newcastle United forward had been discussing a contract termination at the London Stadium but he will no longer be allowed to depart after scoring a last-minute winner against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
David Moyes’ side recorded a huge win over Villa last weekend, with summer signing Thierno Barry netting the only goal of the game just before the hour mark.
Barry said of his goal: "I saw Martinez coming out fast and I said in my head, 'Okay, I need to try the chip', and it went in, so it makes me very happy.
"It's the first time [I've scored a winner] this season. I'm very happy to score again, I'm always preparing to score and for it to give us the win, I'm very happy.
"I think it's an important moment. The week before we didn't do good, so we wanted to give an answer, a good answer, to that performance. We played with heart – and that's why we won."
As Everton struggle to find a player to bolster their options up front, Moyes will hope to see Barry keep delivering.
Reflecting further on Sunday’s win, Barry added: "I think [the fans singing my name] is a good thing for me. The last game I didn't score my penalty and I felt very bad for this because it's only the second-ever penalty I've missed in my career.
"When I came today, in my head, I knew I had to play well for the fans. I played for them, and I'm very happy to score, which helps put the previous game in the past.
"I don't know about the statistics but always when I go to the pitch, I'm wanting to score goals."