Chelsea transfers: Arsenal keeping tabs on Blues youngster

While Chelsea and Arsenal may be rivals on the pitch, the two sides have been fairly cordial to one another off it in recent years. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur—led by Chairman Daniel Levy—has isolated itself as it relates to doing business with neighbors. The Blues and Gunners have taken a different approach, electing to do business on numerous occasions.

Those who make the journey from N7 to SW6—or vice versa—typically perform better in west London. There have been some greats, the likes of Petr Cech, Cesc Fabregas and Ashley Cole come to mind, there have also been some cult heroes (Olivier Giroud, David Luiz and Willian). Regardless of the trophies they won at Stamford Bridge or their status as a player, the fact remains this list is rather lengthy, especially for local rivals. It could be getting even longer soon though as Arsenal has its eye on a Chelsea youngster.

Arsenal is considering a £40 million bid for Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham.

The Gunners are said to be considering a move for striker Tammy Abraham. Abraham has been linked to a move away from Stamford Bridge for months now after playing a minimal role in Thomas Tuchel’s side. However, the talks have quieted recently with the exception of the Arsenal links. Chelsea’s sale of Giroud leaves a gaping hole at the No. 9 position, so it is unlikely the Blues sanction a deal, at least until another striker is brought in. Many supporters will have fond memories of Abraham’s go-ahead goal at the Emirates in December 2019 and will be hoping that is one of the only memories he’ll make there.

Although the 23-year-old may not fit into Tuchel’s system perfectly, he never really got a fair shake. More often than not, Abraham was the scapegoat during halftime when the attack was underperforming, which to be fair to the English No. 9, was a majority of the time last season under Tuchel. Abraham played in five of the first six Champions League matches, only to never see the pitch again in the competition. Further, he was given just 140 minutes in the last 18 Premier League matches. The Englishman has proven during his time at Stamford Bridge that he is a legitimate English top flight forward with a bright future ahead of him. The Blues have made some ill-fated sales in recent months, but this would be the worst of the lot by a large margin.

Abraham is an X factor for Chelsea when he is on the pitch and it’s likely he’d have the same result as Arsenal. His arrival at the Emirates would solidify yet another position of need for the Gunners as they look to rebuild under manager Mikel Arteta. It’d also allow Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to return to his favored position out wide. While it’s easy to laugh at some of the results and past business of the Blues’ rivals in recent years, it’s deals like this potential one that build the foundation for a great, young team.

The £40 million price tag the club has slapped on Abraham would go a long way in making the team better, there’s no doubt about it. However, losing someone of the striker’s caliber is simply not worth it in the long run. Chelsea has had no problem raising funds elsewhere, it’s time for the board to take a stand and keep Abraham around, regardless of how the current manager views his fit into the team. The Gunners’ interest—in addition to Aston Villa, Leicester City and West Ham snooping around for the forward—should let the Blues know that they are making a monumental mistake keeping Abraham on the market.

What do you make of the Abraham to Arsenal rumors? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!