Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Arsenal warned off £100m Tammy Abraham swoop as former England boss raises worrying issue

Tammy Abraham, Roma striker, during Serie A match against Spezia at Alberto Picco Stadium

Arsenal should think twice before meeting Roma’s asking price for Tammy Abraham with a former England boss suggesting his record in Serie A is only down to the poor state of Italian football.

The Gunners are in the market for at least one new top class striker this summer. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departing for Barcelona, they also expect to lose at least one more forward this summer. And with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah poised to leave as free agents, Arsenal’s attack could have a very different look next season.

As such, they have been linked with a number of big names. Indeed, the likes of Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are being mentioned as targets.

However, the name of Abraham has cropped up recently. He’s enjoying an excellent season in Roma under the leadership of Jose Mourinho. To date, the former Chelsea man has 17 goals and three assists from 33 appearances.

That has seen him linked with a return to the Premier League with Arsenal. However, Roma don’t appear in a hurry to cash in, having placed a prohibitive £100m price tag on his head.

Arsenal, however, are seemingly unperturbed. Mikel Arteta’s need for a new striker is obvious and a return to the Premier League for Abraham would make plenty of sense. Manchester United are also reportedly keen.

That said, Fabio Capello is warning Arsenal to think twice about moving for either Abraham or Osimhen.

He reckons their good goalscoring record is, in the main, down to the poor state of Italian football. He claims Serie A is in danger of falling badly behind the other top leagues in Europe.

That’s a comment that appears justified given the fact that not one Italian side made the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Juventus and Inter Milan were their last sides standing but both exited at the round of 16 stage.

Tammy Abraham to replace Ronaldo at Manchester United

Tammy Abraham to replace Ronaldo at Manchester United

Roma striker Tammy Abraham is linked by Italian media to Manchester United to replace Cristiano Ronaldo up front

And their eliminations followed Atalanta and AC Milan at the group stages.

Furthermore, Italy have also failed to qualify for the World Cup. They were knocked out, embarrassingly, by minnows North Macedonia in Thursday’s play-off eliminator.

Capello warns Arsenal over Tammy Abraham swoop

As such, Capello is warning Arsenal to think twice, comparing the duo to Romelu Lukaku, who is now struggling back at Chelsea.

“Italian football has imitated [Pep] Guardiola for 15 years,” Capello said, as cited by Marca. “There were no vertical passes or physical strength, there is no habit to making challenges. On the other hand, we should follow Jurgen Klopp’s playing style.

“The only ones doing that in Italy are Atalanta and look at their results. Vincenzo Italiano is trying something similar, same as Alexander Blessin at Genoa who is offering even something more than Klopp. The German way is the model to follow, we don’t have the technique to look at the Spanish one.

“There is a high pace in European competition and we are not accustomed to it. There are not enough young Italian players, but there is a wrong idea at its base. We are the country of the back pass to the goalkeeper.

“Victor Osimhen, Romelu Lukaku and Tammy Abraham were just normal strikers abroad. They became champions in Italy. This should raise some questions.”

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