Abraham to Swans... what’s the situation?
SWANSEA City have joined the race to sign up-and-coming Chelsea talent Tammy Abraham.
The striker is currently on international duty with England Under21s at the age-grade championships in Poland.
He spent a successful and goalladen season on loan at Bristol last term, the 19-year-old scoring 26 in 48 appearances for the West Country club
The Ashton Gate side would love to retain Abraham’s services for next season, but that looks highly unlikely given his exploits.
The long line of suitors for Abraham’s services grows longer by the day, however.
Can Swansea steal a march on their rivals? The situation The teenager has his mind focused on England at the moment, and that is completely understandable.
Not only will he have nationalistic pride at stake - he is also in the shop window.
It is unlikely that parent club Chelsea will let him leave Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal this summer, with manager Antonio Conte suggesting Abraham has a bright future ahead of him on the King’s Road.
Conte’s relationship with love-tohate-but-very-good forward Diego Costa has deteriorated to the extent where the Spaniard’s future at Stamford Bridge was determined by text, thus paving the way for Romelu Lukaku’s return to London.
The Blues will most likely seek to add further firepower on their return to the Champions League, and despite Abraham’s talent, more established names will no doubt be needed. A loan move has already been given the green light. So if not Chelsea, why Swansea? Abraham, like most teenagers, needs game-time to continue his development.
He has proved himself at Championship level, now he wants a shot in the top tier.
Asked about his future, he said:”The discussions will happen after (the European Championships). Hopefully it will be in the Premier League. I need to take myself to the next level. That’s the type of person I am. I always want to do better.”
Paul Clement can offer the striker regular game-time on the stage he craves.
Clement’s relationship with Chelsea and the youth set-up there should help in any approach.
The former Real Madrid No.2 has also worked with some of the biggest names in world football, something which would surely attract Abraham.
The Liberty would prove to be happy development ground for the striker, with the crowd always appreciative of young talent.
He would benefit from a season out of the top-four limelight, learning his trade against the league’s best but in a more relaxed environment.
He scores goals and is probably a season ahead of Swansea’s own talented starlet Oli McBurnie in terms of his experience of the hustle and bustle of first-team football.
A year of Abraham in SA1 would allow McBurnie to head off on his own loan spell - he has ironically been linked with Bristol City - and would suit all parties.
The last striker Swansea had on loan from Chelsea didn’t do too bad here, did he?
It just makes sense. The snags Obviously there are obstacles to overcome.
According to a national report , Chelsea and Abraham’s agent will be playing hardball when it comes to wages and the financial structuring of any deal.
The Blues have lined up a £50,000-a-week contract for the forward to sign before heading off on loan, but clubs have been told they will need to cover a £1million signing-on fee to acquire his services on a temporary basis.
His agent also wants to ink-in a significant goal bonus in his contract.
Finances, then, could be an issue for Swansea, who have a welladhered to wage structure at the Liberty. What’s the competition like? Newcastle United and Brighton, both newly promoted from the Championship, are in the running, while relegated Hull City have also shown interest.
Rafa Benitez’s side are understood to have an agreement in place with Chelsea, but the player is still undecided.
Newcastle are Swansea’s main competition and despite their season in the second tier are an attractive proposition.
Swansea will hope the lure of Clement and his connections at Chelsea will tip the balance in their favour. Fernando Llorente’s future Swansea are still keeping everything crossed that Llorente will be lining up in Swansea colours come August, but it is no secret he had his head turned by Chelsea and Conte in January.
Obviously the club’s preference will be for Llorente to stay put, but should the big Spaniard indicate he would like to move on and Conte re-ignite interest, Abraham could be used as a very handy makeweight.
Irrespective of Llorente’s future, Swansea will need two strikers minimum - to arrive this summer, with the almost inevitable departures of Bafetimbi Gomis and (to a slightly lesser extent) Borja Baston.
Swansea haven’t had the rub of green when it comes to signing strikers in recent times - Michu and Wilfried Bony accepted. A loan move removes the element of risk involved with a significant outlay in cash. So, will it get done? Clement indicated at the back end of last season that he would use his contacts at previous clubs to boost their recruitment this summer, and it seems he is doing just that.
Newcastle look to be showing determination in their courting of the youngster, and one must admit that the prospect of playing in front of 52,000 at St James’ Park every other week would be tempting.
But Swansea are in the hunt and should, if anything, hold an advantage over the Magpies due to the head coach’s relationship with Abraham’s parent club.
This is most definitely a deal to keep an eye on.