Arsenal have reportedly agreed terms with Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, which could scupper Roma’s chances of signing him.
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Arsenal have maintained contact with Tammy Abraham and agreed terms with the striker. If a move materialises, it could scupper AS Roma’s attempts to sign the forward despite having agreed a deal with Chelsea.
The race for Tammy Abraham is heating up with Arsenal now considered front-runners for the forward. There have been plenty of twists and turns along the way, but it seems like the striker prefers to stay put in London rather than moving abroad.
Aston Villa and West Ham United were other interested Premier League clubs before Arsenal entered the race. However, owing to Abraham being well settled in London playing with Chelsea in the past two years, there was a feeling he’d prefer the north London club over others.
However, interest grew in him from Serie A, with Atalanta and Roma entering the battle for his signing. Atalanta wanted Abraham if Inter had moved to sign Duvan Zapata, which hasn’t been the case. Instead, the Serie A champions have chosen Roma forward Edin Dzeko, leaving Jose Mourinho’s side to find a replacement.
?? #Abraham has found an agreement with #Arsenal and prefers to stay in #PremierLeague ???????. Transfer to #Roma at risk: decisive hours for his future. ??⚽️ #Calciomercato #Transfers #SerieA #EPL #Chelsea
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) August 10, 2021
Abraham was thought of as the ideal striker to replace the Bosnian, and Mourinho pushed his club to agree a deal with Chelsea. Reports emerged of a loan with an option or obligation to buy, and it seemed like the striker was off to play in Italy. However, he held onto hopes of Arsenal reviving their interest.
So as per the latest story, the Gunners have contacted Abraham’s camp and seemingly come to an understanding over terms for the striker. The club will still have to agree a fee with Chelsea. Their previous quote of £40 million was deemed excessive by Arsenal, although it has been indicated by some reports that they could accept less.
It remains to be seen if a move to the Emirates can materialise. Chelsea are inclined to move Abraham on, especially after agreeing to re-sign Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku in a mega deal. Either way, Abraham was considered unwanted by Thomas Tuchel.
If Arsenal cannot agree on a fee, they would likely focus their attention towards Dusan Vlahovic of Fiorentina, while Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez also features on their radar. Tottenham are also in the race for both those forwards.
Additionally, suppose a move to Arsenal fails to materialise Abraham could be left in a limbo of sorts, in case Roma decide not to wait around for too long and move onto other targets. Crucial next few days await the Englishman as he looks for a solution with regard to his future.
