Scout Report (Newcastle United And Brighton Target) – Tammy Abraham
Tammy Abraham is the talk of the Premier League. The 19-year old Chelsea hotshot is being chased by many clubs in the English top flight. And as per reports from The Telegraph, newly promoted sides Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion have been given permission by the Premier League champions to open negotiations with the striker.
Abraham spent the previous season on loan with EFL Championship side Bristol City and was scoring at free will in the second tier. He finished the season with 23 goals from 41 games – joint second highest tally in the division with Dwight Gayle (Newcastle) and Glenn Murray (Brighton). He also added 3 goals in 4 EFL Cup games.
So, it is not a surprise that the two clubs are chasing him with such interest. Let’s take a look at who exactly Tammy Abraham is and what he will be able to bring to the table.
Footballing Background
Born on 2nd October 1997, in London, Abraham joined the Chelsea football academy at the U-8 level and has risen rapidly through the ranks. Always regarded highly by the people at the club, the England youth international really burst on the scenes during the 2014-15 and the 2015-16 seasons. In the two years, Abraham managed to score a whopping 74 goals for the Chelsea youth side in 98 games, playing a crucial role in his team’s success in the UEFA Youth League in 2015 and the FA Youth Cup in 2016.
His form caught the eye of Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink, who called him up to the senior side in the business end of the 2015/16 season. Abraham made his bow for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on 11th May 2016. He added another appearance to his tally before the end of that season.
Ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, Abraham joined Bristol City on loan and his goal-scoring exploits with his loan side earned him the Bristol City Player of the Season award and the club’s Young Player of the Season award.
Abraham has represented the England U-18, U-19, and the U-21 sides, but remains eligible to play for Nigeria because of his father.
Style of Play
The 19-year old is an out and out centre-forward but can also play on the wings if need be. Abraham, for his age, possesses some great technical ability and has shown a calm head in front of goal. His decision making and his finishing are the two stand-out features of his gameplay that helped him score so much for Bristol.
The England U21 international, much like the young forwards of this age, possesses great pace that allows him to run behind defenders. His movement both on and off the ball is something that allows him to create chances for himself and his teammates. His ability to thread a pass to put his teammates through on goal is also commendable. His work rate is also something that managers will appreciate, as he is never shy from helping his team out defensively.
His lanky frame is something that is a bit of concern as he tends to get pushed by more physical players, which does not allow him to effectively hold up the play. His aerial ability is another facet that needs to be worked upon if he’s to develop into the complete forward.
What Does The Future Hold?
With the reports claiming that Chelsea have allowed Newcastle and Brighton to negotiate with Abraham, it is certain that he will be leaving the Stamford Bridge once again on a loan spell. Just the destination remains to be decided.