Arsenal forced into Tammy Abraham transfer call

Arsenal have not only suffered the worst possible start to the Premier League results wise, but the entire atmosphere around the club is one of despair and confusion with the squad miles off of where it needs to be.

It’s fair to say Mikel Arteta doesn’t like what he has to deal with. It’s fair to say the supporters aren’t especially keen on what they have to watch either.

Defeat away to Brentford has left a dreadfully glum air in and around the club and the absences of two key ingredients, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, raises further eyebrows.

In the build-up to the game it was revealed that Arsenal are actively trying to sell both of those players, news that doesn’t come as any great surprise. With Lacazette it’s long been known that Arsenal are trying to ship the Frenchman to avoid another contract being run down.

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Arsenal forced into Tammy Abraham transfer call at Chelsea as Mikel Arteta seeks a new centre-forward during summer window

As for the captain, he only signed his lucrative new deal 12 months ago. His output last season was well below what was expected of a £350k-per-week player and a pre-season with little to suggest that is improving makes him an understandable name on the preferred exit list.

Those two coupled with Eddie Nketiah trying to be sold is why Arsenal have been linked with numerous centre-forwards all summer. Aubameyang’s numbers are dropping, Lacazette is going to eat away at funds and Nketiah is not at the standard required, hence the desire.

Which is why someone like Tammy Abraham has been regularly mentioned in the headlines. Another Chelsea player linked with Arsenal? Indeed.

Abraham has obvious differences to the likes of David Luiz and Willian given, above all, his age and his exemption from the Blues’ side being widely considered not reflective of his ability. He has many admirers.

One of those is Arteta. Links to the striker are not without merit and any deal to bring Abraham to his boyhood club has been discussed at length by those in London Colney. Yet, as has been the case all summer, signings are dependent on sales.

We need only look back to the 2-0 loss at Brentford to see just how bloated the squad is. Despite missing five senior players through injury, four of which are regular starters, there was no room on the bench for Willian or Sead Kolasinac, with four of the options on the sidelines being right-backs.

Lacking presence in attack, Abraham made sense so long as there was room for him in the team. All of which has forced Arsenal into a decision on his potential purchase.

Continued…

Roma to Sign Tammy Abraham as Arsenal Pull Out of Transfer

Arsenal have had to abandon their hopes of signing Abraham this summer with Roma having stolen a march and due to imminently announce his arrival.

As per The Athletic, the striker has agreed to join the Italian side in a deal worth €40m (£34m) that is to be paid in installments over the length of his contract. He’s earning a salary boost and is going somewhere he is wanted. Good for him.

But he wanted to go to Arsenal, and vice versa.

Even telling his friends that he was waiting for the Gunners’ offer to arrive, Roma have taken advantage of the Gunners’ inability to sell either Lacazette or Nketiah. Well, both, most likely.

As reported by James McNicholas, Arteta wanted to bring Abraham to the club he’s supported as a boy but has had to pull out of the deal due to the insurmountable task of moving on deadwood first.

Whether one wanted Abraham or not, the state of affairs at Arsenal is wholly concerning. Appalling recruitment has once again reared its ugly head.

Poor signings can completely ruin a team. Not only is the player not up to the standard, they then become difficult to shift which has a knock-on effect for bringing in others. While Nketiah is not a recruitment issue, he had chances to go in January that the club inexplicably turned down.

Same with Lacazette, the offers were there last summer, coincidentally one from Roma, that were deemed below the Gunners’ valuation. Another mistake.

Abraham is neither the first nor will he be the last target this summer that Arsenal will have to pull out of due to the size of their squad and struggles to shift players. It’s unsettling. This firesale that has been in the offing may see prices slashed further if Arteta and co are to bring in the players this squad so desperately need.