After 27 goals in all competitions for AS Roma last term, Tammy Abraham made a fast start to life in Italy and was indispensable as the club lifted the Europa Conference League trophy in Tirana. However, within less than 12 months of that triumph, the Englishman is struggling for playing time and is possibly thought to be considering a return to the Premier League.
With the 25-year-old clearly at ease within Serie A and the city of Rome itself, it may yet take a significant project to wrestle Abraham out of the clutches of the Giallorossi, but his absence from the England squad for the 2022 World Cup will also be a factor if presented with the chance to return home this summer.
A miserly return of three league goals ahead of the tournament in Qatar no doubt had a negative impact on national selection, but the former Chelsea striker will also look at the inward-looking attitude of coach Gareth Southgate and the popularity of the English top flight. Borussia Dortmund’s teenage sensation Jude Bellingham was the only non-Premier League-based player selected.
Back to Birmingham
According to Calciomercato, Aston Villa have had Abraham at the top of their summer shopping list for some time and the striker will have fond memories of the Birmingham-based club, after firing them to promotion while on loan for the 2018/19 campaign.
However, several other Premier League sides could join the race for his signature, should he become available, but former club Chelsea is not among that group. The Londoners have already spent heavily since their acquisition by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, and the €70 million buy-back clause will be off-putting.
The Giallorossi are reported to be willing to accept offers over €40 million, which would provide a small profit on the €38 million outlay in June 2022, unless Abraham can show more of the form that made him one of the most outstanding performers in Serie A last season.
Fighting for a first-team spot
With Roma fighting a six-way battle for Champions League qualification and looking well placed for an assault on the Europa League over the coming weeks, the striker will be determined to show coach Jose Mourinho that he is of better use out on the pitch rather than watching kick-off from the substitutes bench.
Abraham has shown that he is more than capable of leading the Giallorossi into battle. If he can recover some confidence, and quickly improve on his six Serie A goals, general manager Tiago Pinto will have one less problem to resolve when the transfer window reopens in the summer, and a Premier League return can wait.
