If a recent report from the Mirror is believed to be true, Aston Villa are eyeing a summer swoop for Chelsea star Tammy Abraham. The 23-year-old Englishman is not in Thomas Tuchel’s plan. He is therefore allowed to leave if his potential suitors meet a valuation of around £40m.
Villa might lose Jack Grealish amid rumours of Manchester City’s staggering £100m bid for the Three Lions sensation. They are aggressively pursuing their summer targets and have already roped in Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City in a club-record £33m (before add-ons) transfer.
An outright ‘number 9’ remains the priority to challenge and cover Ollie Watkins high up the pitch. While on loan a couple of seasons back, Abraham’s successful stint at Villa Park has made him the primary choice irrespective of the price tag.
Tammy Abraham Is Proven At The Top Level
His 25 goals in 37 Championship outings proved to be crucial in the Villans’ top-flight return, and the poaching trait of the hitman has convinced Dean Smith to script a reunion prior to the upcoming term. Chelsea’s transfer ban helped him grab enough first-team minutes under Frank Lampard and the 15 league goals he scored in 34 outings showcased his ability to deliver at the pinnacle of the English pyramid.
Although the minutes were limited since Lampard’s dismissal, the youngster still managed to fire in 12 times last season in 32 appearances across competitions. Having said that, Abraham’s development has stalled significantly in recent months, and a move to the Midlands should see him start afresh in familiar surroundings.
Why The Abraham Move Makes Sense For Aston Villa
Villa, meanwhile, are not alone in the hunt, with the likes of Crystal Palace and West Ham keeping close tabs on his situation at Stamford Bridge. However, the transfer figure being demanded is way more than Palace and West Ham’s valuation for the player. The ‘Grealish money’ is tipped to be the reason why Claret and Blue are leading the race over the other Premier League clubs.
Wesley made a bright start since completing a £22m transfer from Club Brugge a couple of summers ago. But a severe cruciate knee ligament injury sidelined the Brazilian for more than a year. The signing of Watkins and Bertrand Traore has also put him further down the pecking order.
While it would be sometime before the Selecao international can regain his form and fitness to compete at the highest level, Traore is more suited down the wide or as a ‘number 10’. Smith’s brand of football received massive accolades despite missing out on a top-half finish, and the arrival of Abraham might see the gaffer lining him up alongside Watkins in a 4-4-2.
