Tammy Abraham is set to join Roma on loan from Chelsea after agreeing to personal terms, despite preferring a move to Arsenal this summer, according to Calciomercato.
Roma have made big strides in their negotiations with Chelsea over taking England striker Abraham to Italy. Jose Mourinho’s Serie A side are searching for a new centre-forward to replace Edin Dzeko, with the Bosnian bound for Inter Milan to fill their Romelu Lukaku void.
Chelsea immediately favoured sending Abraham to Rome once the Giallorossi began to show an interest in the 23-year-old. The Stamford Bridge hierarchy felt Roma’s offer would suit them financially, while also avoiding potentially strengthening a Premier League rival.
Abraham posed a problem for Chelsea in talks with Roma, though, as the forward preferred joining Arsenal this summer. Gianluca Di Marzio had reported the Blues product’s mind was set on switching west London for north, after Mikel Arteta made him his top striker target.
However, Mourinho has managed to convince Abraham of a move to the Stadio Olimpico, it seems. The Portuguese marked the six-cap international as his top target to replace Dzeko before speaking with Abraham. He may now fly to Italy on Tuesday or Wednesday to sign.
Abraham will likely join Roma on an initial two-year loan for €5m (£4.5m), which carries a €35m (£30m) purchase option. He will earn €4m-a-year (£65k-p/w) in the Italian capital, up marginally from his current £57k-p/w Chelsea contract expiring in 2023.
Arteta will now have to favour alternative targets to strengthen Arsenal’s attack with Roma winning the race for Chelsea’s Abraham. The London-born forward struck six goals and two assists in 22 Premier League games last season, starting only 12.
Arsenal to miss ‘goal machine’ as Abraham leaves Chelsea for Roma
Arteta always faced difficulties in Arsenal signing Abraham from Chelsea, let alone the rival interest from Mourinho’s Roma. Di Marzio added the Gunners would have to offload their 2020/21 top-scorer Alexandre Lacazette to fund the Blues product’s arrival.
But the Frenchman remains at the Emirates Stadium ahead of their Premier League curtain-raiser with Brentford on Friday. Arteta will now hope his uncertain future does not affect his performances, having missed out on Abraham to Mourinho.
Roma’s negotiations to loan Abraham from Chelsea will deny Arsenal the chance to sign a promising forward, too. His former Blues academy teammate Kasey Palmer once dubbed the 6 ft 2 forward on Twitter a ‘goal machine’.
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