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Football London
Football London
Sport
Robert Warlow

West Ham sent Tammy Abraham transfer message as verdict given on Chelsea striker's future

Paul Merson believes Tammy Abraham will be leaving Chelsea at the end of the current season.

The future of the Blues striker is the subject of much speculation, with Abraham struggling for opportunities in recent weeks under Thomas Tuchel.

The 23-year-old, who has scored 12 goals this season for the Blues, has only played five times since the German succeeded Frank Lampard in January, with his only strike since then being in a 1-0 win against Barnsley in the FA Cup.

His lack of opportunities has led to question marks over his future at Stamford Bridge, with West Ham among the clubs linked with a move for the England international.

Thomas Tuchel on Tammy Abraham, Kai Havertz and Chelsea loans

And Merson reckons the writing is on the wall when it comes to his career at Chelsea, with the Blues understood to be in the market for another striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Arsenal forward said: “I think he will be on his way, I think [Tammy] Abraham will be on his way.

"There will be plenty of takers, absolute plenty of takers for me, but not at one of the top clubs at the moment.”

Abraham, who has now scored 30 goals in 80 appearances for the Blues, has been sidelined with an ankle injury in recent weeks, but he was an unused substitute as Chelsea won 4-1 against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

And Tuchel's recent comments about him suggest that he may find it difficult to get a place back in his team, and perhaps Gareth Southgate's England squad for the European Championships this summer, with the German giving sending a warning to the striker.

"There is no easy way of getting back into my team," he said.

“I cannot make decisions based on the personal goals of the players. Kepa has also the personal goal of playing for Spain - but this can never influence my decisions.

“I am the Chelsea coach, I have to do what is good for us."

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