Tammy Abraham set for loan to Swansea City after weeks of Newcastle and Brighton rumours

Despite not being in the rumour mill before hand, Swansea City pipped Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Tammy Abraham loan race. It’s almost as if most of these rumours have no basis in reality.

Newcastle, Brighton and even Vitesse all popped up as possible loan destinations for Tammy Abraham’s first season of top-flight football. Swansea were not in the mix, but all signs now point to Abraham playing under former Chelsea coach Paul Clement at the Welsh club.

Swansea are battling to keep their best players for next season. Their top two scorers – Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson – are already linked with moves away. Signing Abraham on a loan could be a way for the Swans to protect themselves if either departs.

Abraham’s arrival – even if only for a season – could also signal to Llorente and Sigurdsson that the club are serious about bolstering their offence and reorganizing their style of play under Clement. Llorente and Sigurdsson want to do more than fight for Premier League survival next season.

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Conversely, bringing in a young striker on a loan does not herald the sort of stability and long-range vision that Swansea desperately needs. After going through three managers in one season, the Swans need to demonstrate strategic planning and growth, not range-of-the-moment moves.

For Tammy Abraham, Swansea are a mixed bag. Paul Clement and Claude Makelele both understand and have good relationships with Chelsea. They will do what they can to prepare Abraham to pick up with the Blues the following season. However, Paul Clement is no Rafael Benitez, neither as a club manager nor in terms of player development.

Benitez was the ideal loan manager for Abraham. He has years of experience working with and devleoping players like Abraham. He has restored a sense of energy and ambition to Newcastle, creating an environment akin to what Abraham will encounter at Stamford Bridge. Despite having spent last season in the Championship, Newcastle are mentally and culturally more a Premier League club than Swansea City, thanks to Rafael Benitez.

Swansea has much more motivation to conclude this loan early in the summer than Chelsea did. It is somewhat disheartening that Abraham will not even get a trial during Antonio Conte’s pre-season. Chelsea must be very confident about signing Romelu Lukaku, and the progression of another young striker. Michy Batshuayi and Bertrand Traore must be very happy to see this news.

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At the end of the day, though, a loan to Swansea ensures the top priority for Tammy Abraham: consistent Premier League football. Chelsea may have finalized the loan this early to guarantee he would spend next season in the Premier League. The timing may be from an abundance of caution, eliminating the risks of having to stash Abraham in the Championship or on the continent next season.