WE WANTED TAMMY, BUT CHELSEA DIDN’T EVEN CALL ME BACK
BLUEBIRDS BOSS WARNOCK ACCUSES BLUES OF ‘LACKING CLASS’ AFTER MISSING OUT ON STRIKER LOAN DEAL
NEIL Warnock has revealed he tried to sign Tammy Abraham on loan this summer and has accused Chelsea of showing a lack of class as the move fell through.
The Cardiff City boss was chasing a striker in the final days of the transfer window and had made Abraham, who spent last season on loan at Swansea City, his number one target.
The England international was reportedly keen on a move to the Premier League new boys, but Chelsea blocked the switch and the Bluebirds were left to rue a missed opportunity.
Instead, Abraham dropped down into the Championship a few weeks later.
And Warnock revealed the truth behind his top summer target as his Bluebirds prepare to take on highflying Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Warnock told the Evening Standard: “I wanted Tammy Abraham from day one. I spoke to Eddie Newton (Chelsea’s loan player technical coach) about it, but he ended up at Aston Villa.
“It might have been because our deadline was three weeks before the Championship’s.
“Perhaps they weren’t sure at the time and then he ends up leaving at the end of the month, when only a move to a Championship club is possible. But even then, a phone call would have been better and shown a bit of class.”
Abraham did not seal a loan move away from Stamford Bridge until the final days of the Football League’s loan window, switching to Aston Villa on a season-long deal.
But Warnock – who also targeted Danny Ings on loan from Liverpool – would have guaranteed the 20-yearold playing time in the Premier League.
He also said Cardiff were willing to pay the required funds to add to their striking options.
The veteran boss added: “Tammy would have been my main man in the Premier League – surely that would have been better for him? I don’t understand it. Surely they would want him playing in the Premier League?
“I don’t think it was a question over the size of the loan fee – we would have paid it. I just the felt the way we played, he would have
enjoyed it and had an impact. I missed out on a few players waiting for him too, which disappointed me. But that’s life.”
Meanwhile Warnock has joked that he would have loved Chelsea’s star men to move to Barcelona or Real Madrid, but vowed the Bluebirds will not use heavy-handed tactics against them this weekend.
The veteran boss takes his Bluebirds to Stamford Bridge on Saturday looking to end Chelsea’s 100 per cent record this season.
And the former Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace manager admitted he loves to watch Blues wing wonders Eden Hazard and Willian – but in the summer was secretly hoping they might move to La Liga.
“I was hoping Barcelona bought Willian and Hazard went to Real Madrid in the summer,” he told the Standard.
“They are such great players. Hazard? People try and kick him but he just loves it, he wants to play. I love his attitude.
“I can understand why Chelsea didn’t let him go. He’s a massive part of what they’re trying to do.
“How do you stop him? Goodness knows. I was hoping Iceland were going to take chunks out of him when he played for Belgium the other night.”
But after Warnock took flak in the media for joking that he wanted his players to “rough up” Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey – plus the furore over Joe Bennett’s tackle on Leroy Sane against Manchester City last season – Cardiff won’t be targeting Hazard.
The Cardiff boss has reiterated his desire to attack Chelsea this weekend, rather than park the bus.