ABRA VILLA SNUB
HOOPS PLAN RAM RAID
The 20-year-old striker has been out on loan twice and is in two minds about whether to accept an offer from Villa boss Steve Bruce. Part of Abraham’s thinking is that he does not want to drop back into the Championship after spending last term in the Premier League at Swansea City.
Rivals
Abraham (left) has already tasted life in the second tier with Bristol City and does not think the switch will advance his career.
Villa have been in touch with Chelsea over the forward who was reportedly the subject of a deadline-day £25million offer from rivals Tottenham.
Ironically, that bid may have been in response to Villa’s refusal to play ball over the transfer of their own star-inthe-making Jack Grealish.
FOOTBALL’S NO.1 GOSSIP COLUMN
However, they are finding it hard to persuade Abraham, who flourished at Ashton Gate.
With eight goals to his credit at the Liberty Stadium last term, along with picking up two England caps under Gareth Southgate, he is eager to see if he can cut it at Stamford Bridge.
At present, the hitman finds himself third in the pecking order behind Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud.
But Giroud has been the subject of speculation since new boss Maurizio Sarri arrived at the club that he is not favoured by the Italian.
That may be influencing Abraham’s take on the matter but with the transfer window in Europe not due to close for another few days, that situation could change permanently with Marseille having had a longterm interest in the former Arsenal man.
That uncertainty may force Bruce to either consider making in-form striker Jonathan Kodjia his main spearhead after the forward came through an injury-plagued campaign to start this one with a flurry of goals.
However, Bruce has seen one loan move finally come to fruition.
His dogged pursuit of Everton’s Yannick Bolasie paid off and the winger was paraded at Villa Park before yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Reading. UNDER-PRESSURE QPR boss Steve Mcclaren is planning a TRIPLE raid on his former club DERBY.
The ex-england boss is under pressure at Loftus Road following a dismal start to the campaign – the Hoops are rock bottom of the Championship.
And now he wants to sign winger Ikechi Anya (left), midfielder George Thorne (inset, top) and striker Chris Martin (inset, bottom) all on loan from the Rams. Mcclaren watched the trio play for the Rams’ Under-23 side at Chelsea on Friday night.
He added strikers Nahki Wells and Tomer Hemed on loan in midweek and has admitted further loan signings will decide Rangers’ season.
QPR have been hit by a January transfer embargo so face a big few days before the loan window shuts.