Chelsea’s temporary transfer embargo led to a number of promotions and subsequent success stories among the fringe members of the squad. The club are now free to spend once the summer window is finally opened, but many fans will be hoping that the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James, and Tammy Abraham remain as first-team regulars for next season and beyond.
In the case of Abraham, the player has delivered on his striking potential but, while he seems set to stay at Stamford Bridge, the England international is facing something of an uncertain future.
Enter Reinforcements?
As one of the richest clubs in world football, it’s inevitable that Chelsea will continue to be linked to the biggest names in the game. When transfer windows open, a number of world class strikers become available and, with the transfer embargo lifted, the Blues can now make their way to the front of the queue.
2019/20 has been a positive campaign for Chelsea under Frank Lampard but there is always room for improvement. They are expected to finish in the top four with the Premier League betting markets pricing the Blues at 4/6 to achieve this. Champions League football is a minimum target for now, but Chelsea fans want to be competing at the very top of the table and, to do that, they may well need to bring in a new striker ahead of 2020/21.
Formation Change
Tammy Abraham started the 2019/20 season in explosive fashion and, while his scoring ratio slowed down after Christmas, he’s set for a respectable return. 13 goals in his first 27 EPL games this season suggests that the striker’s days of being loaned out are over.
But with the potential for a big-money centre-forward arriving at the club, Abraham’s future role in the starting lineup is being questioned. According to former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp, Abraham could be forced out into a wide position in a 4-3-3 formation. It wouldn’t be an ideal situation for a player who has just broken into the full international set up and has aspirations to represent England in his preferred striking position.
Other Options
Aside from the potential for a new player to be brought in, Lampard may well decide that this is the time to give Michy Batshuayi a chance to stake a claim as Chelsea’s first-choice front man. Olivier Giroud’s contract extension will also have a bearing on Abraham’s future.
There is the potential for strikers to become available: Rumours suggest that Premier League clubs may move for the prolific Erling Haaland who is also in the Bundesliga – this time with Borussia Dortmund. Haaland scored 13 goals in his first 14 games in Germany but, having only moved to Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in January, a further switch at this early stage seems unlikely.
It does, however, seem to be certain that Chelsea will sign a new striker in the summer. He will undoubtedly be the new first choice but what does that mean for the promising Tammy Abraham?
