Tammy Abraham gives Chelsea fans a preview into the summer window

By the way Chelsea fans speak about Romelu Lukaku nowadays, one would think the £97.5 million that it cost the club to buy the Belgian came straight out of their pockets. There seems to be a lot of buyer’s remorse amongst the social media supporters because of Lukaku’s poor performances on the back of his ill-advised interview. This has led to fans scouting other strikers across Europe’s top five leagues, as if the Blues are going to dump Lukaku in the summer. News flash: it isn’t going to happen, the Chelsea No. 9 is here to stay for many more seasons.

The search for another forward has led a lot of people right back to where they began, Serie A. Two former Blues—Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud—have been tearing it up in Italy for Roma and AC Milan respectively. It’s worth noting Chelsea does have a buyback clause on the former that activates in summer 2023. While it’s rather easy to look at their situations out of context, scratch your head and ask “why didn’t the club keep them around?”, things aren’t quite that simple. In fact, the Abraham sale in particular is a great example of what Blues fans can expect this summer too.

Chelsea fans can expect more deals like the Tammy Abraham sale this summer

If you’re having a hard time connecting the dots, it’s understandable, just stick with me on this one. Abraham is an incredibly talented footballer. His 22 goal contributions in 33 games this season back that claim up without anything else needing to be said. The 24-year-old would be a welcome addition to the Blues’ attack this year and his inclusion in the side would presumably solve a lot of their issues. The same goes for last season when he was a Chelsea player, he just wasn’t getting the appearances required to make an impact.

Nevertheless, Abraham didn’t play a significant role last season, which led to him being sold. His move to Roma did not mean the club gave up on him as a footballer though. Thomas Tuchel—and practically every other manager that has coached the English forward—has praised his talent in the past and noted he has a bright future. The reality of the situation is that Abraham simply did not fit the play-style of a Tuchel striker. Who exactly fits that mold remains to be seen, but we know it wasn’t Abraham, which prompted the club to sell him to Roma a few months ago.

This gives fans a look into what the summer transfer window could look like in a few months’ time. Chelsea’s triumph at the FIFA Club World Cup essentially secured Tuchel’s place on the sidelines for the 2022/23 campaign. He is set to become the first manager since Jose Mourinho (second stint) to take charge of the Blues for at least two-and-a-half seasons. Therefore, he’s earned the right to begin to shape the team to his liking. Chelsea is going to have to make a few tough decisions and sell some quality footballers in order to turn the German’s dreams into reality.

The Blues are set to see a potentially massive overhaul in the squad sooner rather than later. First, there are the three out-of-contract centerbacks whose futures currently hang in the balance. Then there are the three key players who will have one year remaining on their deals at the end of the current campaign. Marcos Alonso is the likeliest of the trio to leave. However, there’s no ruling out the departures of Jorginho or N’Golo Kante, who are both 30 years old. The attack is the unit most in need of a makeover with Kai Havertz, Lukaku and Mason Mount being the only players presumably safe from any sales. Some of the outgoings are going to be hard to swallow, the supporters just need to put their faith in Tuchel as they have done over the last 13 months.

Regardless of who comes in and who leaves, it’s set to be an exciting next few months for Chelsea fans. In addition to the trophies still to be played for, the board looks ready to fully back Tuchel’s long-term vision. There will unfortunately be incredibly promising players—similar to Abraham—who will be casualties of this rebuilding effort. It’s all a part of the process of trusting a manager, just ask Liverpool or Manchester City.

Whether or not Tuchel is the man to lead this team for years to come will be answered as time goes on—as is the case with all Blues coaches. It’s certainly looking like the German will be the one to break the chop and change chain though. This means that the club may have to say goodbye to players in similar situations to Abraham. When these individuals succeed elsewhere and the new Blues recruits may not be fitting in as well as many expected right away, it’s ignorant to claim the club made the wrong decision. There is a reason for every transfer, you just have to trust those in charge at Chelsea right now.

What do you think the biggest surprise move the club makes this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!