Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Star Chelsea sold in 2020 backed to emulate Blues legend; tipped for Prem return

Chelsea sold Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori to Serie A clubs in 2020, and now one of them has been backed to emulate a Blues legend as well as return to the Premier League.

Tomori left Stamford Bridge in July as AC Milan paid Chelsea £24million for his signature. The transfer came after a successful six-month loan spell with the Rossoneri.

Centre-back Tomori has made 31 appearances in all competitions this term, scoring once. His solid displays have helped Milan to reach the summit of the Italian top flight.

They have a three-point advantage on second-placed Napoli and could win their first Serie A title since 2010-11.

Tomori’s impressive performances put him in line for an England call-up, although manager Gareth Southgate surprisingly kept the 24-year-old out.

Abraham left Chelsea just six weeks after Tomori. He had become a target for Arsenal and Aston Villa, but it was Roma who won the transfer race.

Jose Mourinho’s side paid £34m for the striker’s services. Chelsea have the option to re-sign Abraham in the future for double that fee, according to BBC Sport.

Tammy Abraham impressing in Italy

Abraham is also enjoying his time in Italy, having hit 23 goals in 40 matches so far. That puts him above deadly striker Gabriel Batistuta in terms of Roma goals in a debut campaign.

Pundit Pat Nevin has now made an exciting comparison involving Abraham and a legendary Chelsea goalscorer.

He said (via HITC): “This experience in Italy could really turn Tammy into the next Didier Drogba.

Tammy Abraham of Roma

“The one thing I think that Tammy needed to work on when he left English football in the summer to go to Italy was his physicality.

“There was no doubt about his technical ability. That was there for everyone to see. But he needed to power himself up, make himself more physical – and I think he is doing it out there with Roma.”

Nevin reckons Abraham will return to England in the future to show off his improved qualities.

Premier League return predicted

“I would not be surprised if eventually Tammy wants to come back to the Premier League after this spell in Italy,” the pundit added.

“And he will come back a better player and a more rounded person.

“He has worked under Jose Mourinho out in Rome, and most top strikers who have worked under him love him. Ask Drogba. Tammy is learning that right now.”

Abraham could follow in the footsteps of Belgian hitman Romelu Lukaku. He spent time at Chelsea early in his career, before returning in the summer.

Lukaku’s season hasn’t gone to plan, but that may not happen to England international Abraham.

“He is not the same kind of player as Romelu Lukaku, who battered in the goals in Serie A just like Tammy Abraham,” Nevin added. “But I do think scoring goals is easier in Italy – which is why I think eventually, like Lukaku, Tammy will come back – to the best league.

“And it is so good for him that he is playing for a manager that believes in him in Mourinho – and a set of Roma fans that worship him right now. That is a huge boost for any player.”

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