David Sullivan should seal a move for Tammy Abraham this summer after Kevin Phillips tipped West Ham United to sign the Chelsea striker.
The former Sunderland and England attacker has been talking with Football Insider and claimed that he can see the 23-year-old lining up in claret and blue next season.
Abraham has been linked with making the switch across the capital amid the Hammers’ search for Sebastien Haller’s replacement, with the Daily Star suggesting he tops a three-man shortlist ahead of Ivan Toney and Eddie Nketiah.
Abraham is Chelsea’s top scorer across all competitions this season with 12 goals in 37 games, but has fallen out of favour under Thomas Tuchel as the German and his management team are unconvinced by his attitude.
Phillips believes that the way David Moyes has West Ham set up to attack would create a plethora of chances for Abraham to thrive should he look to leave Stamford Bridge.
“I could see him there, definitely,” he told Football Insider. “The way West Ham are playing at the moment, he’d get chances. As a striker, you want to be playing regularly because we live on confidence.
“To play a few games then get left out, for a striker that’s not great. I can see him at West Ham. They’ve got creative players that would create opportunities for him, and he likes to play on that last man.
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“If he was to be sold by Chelsea there’ll be a few clubs chasing him because he’s still got a long career ahead of him.”
Abraham’s future at Stamford Bridge is said to be up in the air, which would play into West Ham’s advantage should Moyes decide that the Englishman is his top target.
West Ham pursuing a deal for the 23-year-old would likely see the Irons make him their top earner, as reports by Eurosport earlier this month claimed that he feels he should be earning closer to £120,000 per week rather than the £80,000 he currently makes weekly.
Sullivan should put the financial implications to one side as Abraham has the potential to be the ideal striker for the Irons’ system, with Dean Windass certain that he is “Moyes’ type” as the 23-year-old is “big, strong and scores goals”.
Being suited to the system already in operation at West Ham should see Abraham be able to slot straight in without the need for an adaptation period, and begin to prove Tuchel wrong from the get-go.
The Blues boss is said to have concerns over Abraham's ability to be the main striker for an elite club, while his staff fear that the £36m-rated attacker – who Frank McAvennie describes as a “wonderful” centre-forward – is a soft touch.
Abraham has not appeared to agree with Tuchel’s stance, with the German claiming “at the moment, he is only struggling with my decision,” after omitting the Chelsea product from his matchday squad against Manchester United last month.
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy may oppose strengthening a team currently rivalling them for a top four place, but Sullivan should do his utmost to seal a move and supply Moyes with a forward with a clear point to prove.
AND in other news, West Ham eye 10-goal livewire who destroyed David Moyes’ side last year…