Aston Villa have been handed a boost in their attempts to sign Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham this summer.

What's the story?

Reports in recent weeks have linked Dean Smith's side with a move for the £50k-per-week forward in this summer transfer window.

According to The Daily Mirror, Villa are ready to spend £40m to bring Abraham to Villa Park, with the 23-year-old striker being told he is free to leave Chelsea as he doesn't feature in Thomas Tuchel's long-term plans at Stamford Bridge.

It has now been suggested that the Blues are willing to cut their asking price from £40m as they are keen to get him off their books this summer in order to try and acquire their own transfer targets.

Dean Smith needs him

With Ollie Watkins, Wesley and Keinan Davis being Villa's only striking options at the moment, Smith could really do with a genuine Premier League proven centre-forward to add some quality competition.

Speaking during BT Sport coverage of Chelsea's Champions League win over Lille in 2019, former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand raved about Abraham's centre-forward play, saying (via Goal): "His hold-up play, coming to the ball, bringing others into play. There were some balls that came into him that were Didier Drogba-esque. I think he’s developing nicely, he’s scoring goals, he’s scoring different types of goals and I think he’s a threat."

In his first spell at Villa Park - when he spent a season on loan in the Championship - the England international netted 26 goals in 40 games, as well as providing three assists.

Speaking after a goal-scoring display against Swansea, Smith himself said: "Tammy is a handful and he knows better than me that he should have been walking away with the match ball tonight. But he scored the winning goal, he’s a hell of a talent. Tammy put in a hell of a shift up front on his own and proved he is a fine player."

Also described as "unbelievable" and "phenomenal" throughout his career, the £34m-rated Abraham could provide some much-needed competition for Watkins up top, and would take the goal-scoring burden off the former Brentford man.

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