Aston Villa have reportedly made inquiries about Fenerbahçe striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the past 24 hours as Unai Emery makes a desperate bid to attack.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Moroccan international will “decide his future soon” with several top European clubs circling.
Napoli and Juventus have also registered an interest, but Villa’s late entry into the race points to a potential pivot in their transfer strategy.
The call comes as the Midlands side look to strengthen their attack before the end of the transfer window.
With En-Nesyri boasting a physical profile similar to that sought after by Emery, he has quickly emerged as one of Villa’s key targets.
??? Youssef En-Nesyri will decide his future soon with several interested clubs. After Napoli and Juventus, Aston Villa also called in the last 24h.
Villa has worked for many days on Tammy Abraham’s deal, he agreed on the players side but still not with Besiktas.
Italian clubs are always determined. pic.twitter.com/LzzGP1Oz8Z
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 21, 2026
Villa have struggled to reach an agreement with Besiktas for Tammy Abraham
En-Nesyri’s move appears to be a reaction to Tammy Abraham’s faltering talks.
Villa have been working on a deal for the former Chelsea striker, who is currently on loan at Besiktas from Roma for a few days.
While Romano confirmed that an agreement on personal terms was reached with Abraham, striking a deal with the Turkish giants seems difficult.
Villa officials even flew to Istanbul to negotiate, but no deal has been agreed.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has been linked with Aston Villa
Villa are keeping their options open, with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta also on their shortlist.
The French striker has reportedly submitted a transfer request at Selhurst Park, warning Villa and Juventus.
Crystal Palace are reportedly considering a move for Evans Guessand making a 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 a more romantic option; he knows the team, loves the fans, and has a proven track record in the Premier League.
However, his complicated transfer situation jeopardizes his progress until the deadline day.
| The player | Applications | Goals | It helps | 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 Premier League’s most “in-form” option, providing great physicality and clutch play that can match Villa’s wings.
Youssef En-Nesyri, on the other hand, is a wildcard. An aerial specialist with access to elite jumping, he offers a different dimension of trickery but lacks the experience of the English top flight of the other two.
Tammy Abraham leads the trio in terms of goal involvement in the 2025/26 season, producing a much higher turnover despite playing fewer games than Jean-Philippe Mateta.
