The Newcastle United boss was in charge of Chelsea while Abraham was in the Blues’ youth ranks.
Benitez celebrates winning the Europa League with Chelsea’s staff
When Rafa Benitez won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013, Tammy Abraham was not even old enough to play the National Lottery.
Then a promising 15-year-old in the Blues’ youth ranks, it’s unlikely that Abraham was not on Benitez’s radar as a possible future professional.
Four years on, Abraham is excelling on loan to Bristol City, where his 18 goals have hoisted him to upper end of the Championship’s goalscoring chart, behind only Chris Wood of Leeds United (22) and Dwight Gayle of Benitez’s Newcastle United (21) this season.
What future Abraham has at Chelsea remains to be seen, with Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi, who cost a combined £65 million, currently above him in the thoughts of manager Antonio Conte.
What is almost certain, however, is that the 19-year-old will not return to Ashton Gate when his loan deal expires, and will most likely be heading elsewhere for a temporary spell.
With the Championship well and truly ticked off, the chances are that Chelsea would like to see what Abraham can do at the highest level and Newcastle, currently nine points clear of third at the top of the second tier, could be the perfect destination.
Bristol City’s Tammy Abraham celebrates
The Sun reported on Thursday that Magpies striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to be moved on this summer, which could create a vacancy for Abraham to fill, especially with doubts over Daryl Murphy’s ability to step up.
And with Benitez already using his Chelsea connections to sign Christian Atsu on loan this season, the Spaniard could surely put forward a convincing case for the winger’s clubmate to follow.
Should Newcastle United target Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham if Aleksandar Mitrovic is sold?
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