Chelsea could ponder a swap deal with Roma to bring back former academy star Tammy Abraham at the expense of Romelu Lukaku.
According to Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness, Chelsea could contemplate bringing Tammy Abraham back to the club in an audacious swap deal involving Romelu Lukau going the other way. The Belgian remains keen to stay at Rome, although there are doubts whether Roma would agree to such a deal for their 26-year-old striker.
Chelsea pondering swap deal to bring Tammy Abraham?
Roma got hold of Tammy Abraham a few years ago in a €43 million deal, and after his first season, the deal may have proved a success. He has since suffered a significant injury, and the ACL problem has kept him out for the whole season. He returned to the bench for Roma’s last game against Sassuolo but did not appear.
Replacing him this season was another Chelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku, who was on loan. The Belgian has hit the ground running for the Serie A side and remains keen to stay here after the campaign. The big issue for the Italian side would come in the form of Chelsea’s financial demands for the striker, although a plan is brewing in the background that could benefit all parties concerned.
Chelsea are now pondering over a swap deal involving Tammy Abraham and Lukaku. Whether such a deal involves the Belgian plus cash remains the question, as Roma are unlikely to agree to sell the 26-year-old striker and value him similarly to Lukaku.
Abraham could be the striker Chelsea need, but given his recent history record, they might not want to activate a reported €80 million buy-back clause in his Roma contract. While the Blues are keen on selling Lukaku, his desire to stay in Rome might fuel further speculation regarding a swap deal involving the 26-year-old striker.
Romelu Lukaku’s future explained
Lukaku has no intention of playing for Chelsea again, and the feeling is mutual. The Blues want a specific sum for the Belgian, and even if they sell him for €40 million or so, they will still take a hit on this particular transfer. Hence, his sale would be meaningless for their accounting books, which may be why the idea of a swap deal has emerged.
Lukaku might also have an offer from Saudi Arabia clubs, which could prove a lucrative move for his career. Yet, he might feel the need to stay in Europe and compete at the top level for at least a few years, and he might agree to make a permanent switch to Roma should he get the chance.
