Arsenal set for Tammy Abraham transfer blow

Arsenal are quite keen on the idea of signing a striker this summer. Few saw it as the primary area of concern this summer but issues throughout pre-season eclipsing those of last term have shifted the mood more towards that of agreement with the hierarchy.

That isn’t to say all were content with the idea of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette strikeforce reinforced by Folarin Balogun.

Lacazette remains an Arsenal player. Barring late developments, the £50m addition will play out the fifth and final year of his contract before leaving for free, having not managed more than 14 goals in a single Premier League campaign since.

As much as he is a key figure in and around the squad, a tireless worker and a different option to the profiles of centre-forward on the books, considering the outlay it’s undeniable that his signing from Lyon has not been a success.

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65 goals in 170 appearances is not worthy of the fee parted with. Not for someone who was brought in to lead the line. It even appeared as if Arsene Wenger realised this soon enough, moving on to sign Aubameyang just six months later. That total expenditure on two strikers who can’t play together. Indeed.

And as the clock ticks down on the opening day meeting with Brentford and the subsequent August 31 closure of the summer window, it looks like the pair will be sharing the mantle once more in that department.

Balogun is destined for a bright future, as is Gabriel Martinelli, yet neither look like usurping either in the pecking order for the No. 9 slot. In Martinelli’s case that’s no great concern given his efficiency out on the left.

So Arsenal had been linked with a new centre-forward; one who could take Lacazette’s place were he, and Eddie Nketiah, to be sold, and assume the responsibility from Aubameyang who is going through the worst patch of form in front of goal arguably throughout his entire career. That is a worrying sign at 32 years old.

Tammy Abraham, amid other links to Andre Silva, Lautaro Martinez and more recently Dusan Vlahovic, has been the primary target throughout. Since it emerged that there was interest from Mikel Arteta, lines of communication have been open (Chelsea are on speed dial anyway) over a potential move to his boyhood club.

All under the proviso that Lacazette and Nketiah depart this window.

Abraham has made the step up from the Championship to the Premier League, scoring 15 goals in 34 outings for the Blues following the completion of his loan at Aston Villa, which he added to with six from 12 starts last campaign before Thomas Tuchel’s arrival as manager.

However, clearly a wanted man, Arsenal may miss out.

Continued…