AC Milan icon Fabio Capello has warned the club against sanctioning the departure of Fikayo Tomori amidst interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United have emerged as potential destinations for Fikayo Tomori as AC Milan look to sell the English international. However, Fabio Capello, while speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, has urged the club to reconsider the decision.
Tomori’s future at San Siro has become increasingly uncertain after an inconsistent 2025/26 campaign. Although the 28-year-old remained involved regularly (37 matches in all competitions), his performances declined, and he went down the pecking order. The Chelsea graduate is reportedly out of Ruben Amorim’s plans.
Milan have made it clear that Tomori is available for transfer as they look to generate funds for new arrivals. The defender has been informed of the decision and is now training separately from the first-team group. He was also left out of the squad for the recent friendly against Chelsea and is not expected to feature against Manchester United.
A move back to England is increasingly possible, with Aston Villa and Newcastle already establishing contact over a potential deal. Capello, however, believes Milan would be making a mistake by allowing Tomori to leave.
The former Milan boss said via SportWitness, “I thought he would be useful to Amorim in some way. Let’s not forget that the Englishman was a starter last season and also played in the years when Milan won the Scudetto and reached the Champions League semi-final.”
The former Milan manager also acknowledged that Tomori may not possess the technical qualities Amorim wants from his centre-backs, but believes his experience and reliability still make him valuable.
“Tomori is not the central defender who is good at setting up the attack that the Portuguese coach probably prefers. But given the defenders currently in the squad, I would have thought carefully before releasing the Englishman.”
Tomori is closing in on Premier League return?
Milan’s decision is also influenced by Tomori’s contract situation. His current deal expires in 2027, leaving the Rossoneri with a limited window to generate a meaningful transfer fee.
For Tomori, a return to the Premier League could offer an attractive opportunity. He has reportedly been uninterested in a previous approach from Coventry City, but Aston Villa and Newcastle represent significantly more ambitious destinations.
Aston Villa could view Tomori as a potential replacement for Arsenal-linked Ezri Konsa, as he is closing in on a move to the North London club. His ability to operate in both a back four and back three would give Unai Emery additional defensive flexibility.
Newcastle could also benefit from his experience as Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, both 34, approach the latter stages of their careers and have entered the final year of their contracts. Tomori may not be an elite ball-playing defender, but his Premier League experience, versatility and winning pedigree could make him a useful addition for either club.
