Tammy Abraham was one of Jose Mourinho’s first signings when he took over at Roma in 2021. The former Chelsea striker joined “The Special One” in the Italian capital for a fee of $44.8 million and immediately hit the ground running in Serie A.
Abraham scored 17 goals and notched four assists during his debut season in Italy, earning himself a spot on the England national team. However, his second season abroad saw a much more modest return of eight goals and three assists in 38 games, while a significant injury limited his playing time last season.
Now, with Mourinho gone and Daniele de Rossi in charge, Abraham’s time with Roma looks over. According to Matteo Moretto, who was reporting via “Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing,” the 26-year-old is drawing interest from West Ham United, although a deal is far from close.
“At the moment I am not aware that the negotiations for Tammy Abraham at West Ham have progressed from where they were. There are talks between the two clubs, but nothing is decided for now,” Moretto reported. “…His salary is around €6m net, and Roma are on the hunt for potential destinations in the final five days of the market.”
Roma recently acquired Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk from Girona for $34 million. His addition has further limited Abraham’s chances of playing time for the upcoming season. Football Italia has reported that Roma will likely be flexible on Abraham’s transfer fee as it looks to shed his considerable salary.
“Roma are hoping to sell the 11-time England international for a fee in the region of €30m, but recent reports suggested they would entertain offers around €25m with additional bonuses,” Peter Young reported. “…Abraham is reportedly on a highly lucrative contract with Roma, which means that negotiations on personal terms with West Ham might not be particularly straightforward.”
Abraham could thrive back in the Premier League. He can score with both feet and is talented at finishing with his head. He can lead the line as a lone striker or play in a 4-4-2 and drop deeper to provide some link-up play. West Ham would undoubtedly give him the playing time he needs to rediscover the production we saw during his debut season under Mourinho.
Nevertheless, there’s no guarantee a deal gets over the line. West Ham will want to ensure the finances make sense for all parties, so Abraham may need to lower his current salary demands. Still, if he does find himself heading to London, he would finally return to the Premier League as a starting-caliber striker. His decision to leave for Italy in 2021 would be justified.